OREANDA-NEWS. Boeing [NYSE: BA] will deliver an additional 336 Combat Survivor Evader Locator (CSEL) radios, and upgrade the system’s global base station network, through new orders from the U.S. Air Force with a combined total value of about \$9.7 million.

The U.S. military uses the global CSEL communication system to aid the rescue of downed pilots and other warfighters in danger. A user transmits position, location and situational information via line-of-sight two-way voice and data, beacon, or over-the-horizon communication paths.

“CSEL radios save lives, so we are honored to support the United States military with this continued production,” said Steve Capps, Boeing CSEL program manager.

The new radios will be the latest configuration, including non-GPS beacon and secure texting capabilities. Base station upgrades will modernize hardware and software to improve communication speeds and provide greater network and information protection.

With more than 54,000 hand-held radios delivered to date, CSEL is the Department of Defense's program of record for combat search and rescue communications. The radios also are available to other U.S. government service branches through the General Services Administration.