The Iris system was originally conceived in the early 1970s, with a contract signed to Computing Devices Canada (now General Dynamics) as system integrator in April 1991.
The complete Iris system was delivered to the Department of National Defence in November 2003, for a total cost of $2 billion Canadian.
Iris is an integrated voice and data distribution system that provides secure and survivable communications.
It provides end-to-end services across a variety of tactical radios, telephones, computers, and fiber-optic, wireless, and satellite networks.
All told, the Iris system integrates more than 200 types of equipment, including 15,000 radios, 1,500 data terminals, and three major software applications.