IRVINE, CA, May 6, 2026 — Iris Technology today announced the official launch of the Merlin HH+, a compact, rugged radio power and data adapter engineered around the real-world configuration demands of the AN/PRC-163 in dismounted SOF operations. Unveiled at SOF Week 2026 in Tampa, Florida, the Merlin HH+ is the only device in its class combining integrated power scavenging with mission-configurable cable architecture — capabilities designed to reduce operator burden, extend mission endurance, and eliminate the improvised workarounds that compromise comms reliability downrange.
THE OPERATIONAL PROBLEM
The AN/PRC-163 is a significant capability step forward for dismounted teams. But the moment it is integrated into a full NettWarrior configuration — EUD connected, Red/Black separated, mission accessories in play — the power and data architecture around it becomes the operational challenge. Cable management multiplies. Battery status becomes a separate task. Hot-swap is not built in. And when the mission shifts, reconfiguring the setup at the wire means starting from scratch or improvising.
The radio is not the limitation. The surrounding power and data architecture is. The Merlin HH+ was built to change that.
WHAT THE MERLIN HH+ DELIVERS
The Merlin HH+ solves two distinct field problems: keeping the PRC-163 powered longer, and giving teams a cleaner, faster way to configure the radio for different mission loads.
– Integrated Power Scavenging — When a field-approved power source is available, the Merlin HH+ draws from it automatically, extending PRC-163 runtime without adding an external box to the kit. Excess power charges the battery. Less dependence on resupply. More time on mission.
– Hot-Swap Capability — Battery changes happen without losing comms or crypto. Redundant power source bridgingkeeps the radio live through every transition.
– Mission-Configurable Cable Architecture — Four discrete configurations address the full range of PRC-163 mission profiles: Power Only (CWB radio-only); Power + EUD; Standard Nett Warrior (CWB + EUD + Red/Black separation); and Nett Warrior + Expansion (adds second CWB or scavenging). Operators carry what the mission requires and scale without rebuilding.
– Plug-and-Play Integration — Attaches directly to the radio and battery pack. No tools. No modifications. No changes to the existing radio, waveform, or operator concept of employment.
– MIL-STD-810H and MIL-STD-461G Compliance — Designed for the environments where the PRC-163 operates. Tested to the standard, not around it.
PROGRAM RELEVANCE
The Merlin HH+ is designed for program teams already invested in the PRC-163 across Army and SOF formations. It extends radio capability at the mission edge without requiring changes to hardware, training, or fielding infrastructure. For acquisition professionals and program managers at commands including SOCOM, U.S. Army PEO Soldier, Army Futures Command, MARCORSYSCOM, NIWC-A/P, and NAVAIR — and for integrators working alongside units in 1st SFG, 75th Ranger Regiment, and AFSOC — the Merlin HH+ provides a clear path to increased dismounted power endurance and reduced cable burden with existing inventory.
It is also compatible with radios from L3Harris, Persistent Systems, Silvus, Thales, TrellisWare, and Viasat, giving multi-platform programs a single power and data management solution across their communications inventory.
“The PRC-163 already earned its place in the fight. The Merlin HH+ is built to keep it there — longer, further out, with fewer things operators have to think about that aren’t the mission. We engineered this around what the field actually looks like, not what the spec sheet assumes.”
— Mike Stein, Vice President, Tactical
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