armada international

Compendiumbya a arm d

Tactical Radios

2012-13

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1armada Compendium Tactical Radios 4/2012

The military historian Danny M. Johnson described radio as the basis for the 20th Century’s communications revolution. For the military, as for the civilian world, it is not overstating the point to say that the advent of radio communications has changed almost everything.

The use of satellite communications is becoming increasingly important, especially for deployed ground units as this gets around range and terrain restrictions which can affect HF, VHF and UHF radio transmissions. (US Army)

46 MbiTs/seC To 9.6 GbyTes/seCin Ten years!

Thomas Withington

s ince its first use en masse during the Great War, up to the Global War on Terror and beyond military tactical radio

has helped soldiers to see ever further through the Clausewitzian ‘Fog of War’. Almost one hundred years ago, before the slaughter in Flanders and Champagne was to begin, the most communication that a radio could

handle was voice traffic, morse code and telegrams.

Simplistic as this may seem today, these limited capabilities paved the way for the huge range of communications traffic which can be handled by modern military radio systems. Voice, internet services, battle management information; and geolocation and cartographic data can all be moved around the battlefield at

light speed from the individual infantry soldier, to his or her comrades and back to higher echelons of command and even to national leaders. Witness how President Barak Obama was able to watch the special forces raid which killed Osama bin Laden, codenamed Operation Neptune Star, unfold on live video feed sent directly from the US Navy Seal special forces commandoes participating in the attack.

2 armada Compendium Tactical Radios 4/2012

Thales’s HF-3000 SkyF@st is a digital HF software-defined voice and high-speed data communications system. This radio can achieve data rates of up to 9.6 megabits-per-second and contains a built-in GPS system. (Thales)

ConTaCT ProGraMMeThe vital importance that tactical radio plays in today’s military operations is underscored by the significant ongoing activity in this domain. For example, in May this year, the French armed forces announced a major programme to upgrade their tactical communications via the ‘Contact’ programme. Thales will supply a new Software Defined Radio (SDR), the majority of which will be used by the army, with sets also equipping the air force and navy. The first of these new radios will enter service in circa 2018 equipping armoured vehicles and dismounted infantry. A second phase of the programme will be launched after this to outfit air force platforms and naval vessels with new communications. In total, the Contact programme could be eventually worth up to €4 billion. The intention of the programme is to replace the Thales PR4G F@stNet family of tactical radios currently used by the French armed forces. On 22nd July, Thales was awarded the development contract for the Contact programme.

The roll-out of Contact will mark an important milestone for the European Secure Software Defined Radio (Essor) programme which was launched in 2009. Involving Finland, France, Italy, Poland, Spain and Sweden it is aimed

at developing common standards for software-defined radio design and production. The Essor has established a high data rate standard waveform which will allow interoperability with the United States armed forces. The Contact programme will eventually leverage much of the development work already concluded within Essor. Part of the Contact programme will ensure that the Thales PR4G tactical radios currently in service with the French armed forces will be interoperable with the new Contact waveforms as they are rolled out. This will assist the smooth transition between France’s current tactical radios, and the new radios which will be fielded as a result of the Contact initiative.

inDian requireMenTsSeveral companies, meanwhile, are under consideration to fulfil an Indian Army contract to outfit the force with a new tactical communications system. Larsen and Toubro, Tata Power and Bharat Electronics Limited are in the running to satisfy this requirement for new radios under the Tactical Communications System (TCS) programme. These companies will now submit a Detailed Project Report following which the Indian Ministry of Defence will downselect a bidder. The TCS programme will replace the legacy radios which are currently used by the force. Under the terms of the programme, the Indian government will provide up to 80 percent of the development funds for the programme, with the rest being provided by industry.

JTrsArguably the world’s largest tactical radio programme is the United States’ Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) initiative. Several aspects of the JTRS are discussed in detail below, although the programme has passed through some important milestones since Armada International last examined the tactical radio world in its Compendium last year. In June 2011, the first so-called ‘quick look’ laboratory test for the JTRS Soldier Radio Waveform was


Barrett Communications produces a range of tactical radios, and last year

had its 2050HF certified by the US Joint Interoperability Test Command

for interoperability and Automatic Link Establishment performance.

(Barrett Communications)

Technicians perform maintenance on a US Army vehicular radio. With the demise of the Ground Mobile Radio segment of the American JTRS programme, a new effort is being made to acquire a mobile transceiver to equip US military units. (US Army)

completed and demonstrated the possibility of inter-company communications using this waveform.

That said, the JTRS programme has suffered its share of challenges. In May 2011, the US Army announced that costs for the Ground Mobile Radio (GMR) component of JTRS had increased by 50 percent, triggering the activation of the famous Nunn-McCurdy breach. The US Government Accountability Office reported that development costs for the GMR had grown by almost 70 percent between 2002 and 2011. A reduction in the US Army’s order size for the GMR which decreased from 86,209 GMRs to 10,293 also helped to create an increase in the radio’s unit price.

The work being performed by the United States on the JTRS, coupled with the French and Indian procurement programmes constitute three of the many ongoing tactical communications modernisation initiatives being carried out around the world.

aselsanTurkey’s Aselsan continues to provide tactical radios in the form of the company’s 5712 Soldier Radio, PRC-9651 multi-band multi-mode handheld radio, PRC/VRC-9661 multi-band, multi-mode

manpack and vehicular radios, and the SDNIR family of tactical radios. The 5712 Soldier Radio has a small form factor and performs full duplex communications for voice and data traffic. In rural terrain, this radio has a range of up to one kilometre, with up to 24 hours’ operation provided by the battery pack.

The PRC-9651 multi-band, multi-mode handheld system operates across 30-512 Megahertz (Mhz) and provides full duplex packet data services at a rate of 64 kilobits-per-second (Kbps). The PRC-9651’s sister product, the PRC/VRC-9661 multi-band, multi-mode manpack and vehicular radio covers the High Frequency (HF), Very High Frequency (VHF), and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) bands. Meanwhile the SDNIR family of radios includes handheld, manpack, vehicular and fixed station radios for secure voice, data and imagery transmission.

barreTT CoMMuniCaTionsBarrett Communications of Australia is enjoying healthy business supplying tactical radios and their accessories around the world. On 25th August last year the firm’s Barrett 2050HF mobile and base station transceiver was certified

by the US Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC). This certification effectively recognises the conformance of the Barrett 2050HF transceiver with Military Standard 188-141B. This is a US military standard which covers interoperability and performance requirements for HF radio systems, and includes standards for Automatic Link Establishment (ALE).

This certification now means that the Barrett 2050HF is recognised as interoperable with other HF radios transceivers which have been certified by the JITC. This is particularly useful when US forces are operating with HF-equipped non-Nato or Partnership for Peace allies; namely countries which are not formal members of Nato, but which wish to work closely with the Alliance.

CobhaMCobham is one of several companies that have unveiled new products over the past twelve months, notably in the form of its Internet Protocol Mesh Radio. The set can be used to form fluid, self-healing networks enabling non-line-of-sight communications. This allows voice, video, imagery and data communications to be transmitted across significant ranges and enables a


wireless network to be established on the move.

Cobham is also heavily involved in the Darpa’s Wireless Network after Next (WnaN) initiative. Although the US DoD is currently heavily involved in the JTRS the Pentagon is thinking about how it will connect its soldiers and military platforms beyond the JTRS in the future. The WNaN initiative looks into self-forming adaptive ad-hoc communications networks that can be quickly established and activated to reduce the planning burden when building a wireless network. In addition it also aims at increasing data throughput compared to currently available

communications networks to offer good network size, scalability and ease of use. Ultimately, the programme will outfit the military with an affordable radio which can connect every person, platform and device at the tactical level. Darpa and Cobham are moving the WNaN forward via a series of evaluations and demonstrations of WNaN node networks. These demonstrations have included an evaluation of a network containing up to 100 WNaN nodes at Fort Benning, Georgia, in the United States last year.

Along with its work on the WNaN programme, Cobham provides the Eagle Close Combat Radio (CCR). This standalone section radio can be used

with the company’s vehicle intercom system. The Eagle CCR provides full duplex voice communications, and separate data networks.

CoDanHeadquartered in Newton, South Australia, Coban showcased a new product during this year’s Eurosatory defence exhibition in Paris – Envoy SDR software-defined radio. This HF software-defined radio uses a common digital platform that can be easily upgraded to support new software standards and applications as and when they become available. To ease the deployment of the Envoy configurations can be downloaded into the radios on a network with configurations saved and ported to other radios as they join the network, rather than having to programme each radio individually. The radio can directly interface with an Internet Protocol (IP) network without having to be routed through an external modem or PC. Several foreign languages can be supported by the Envoy in a similar way to choosing the language option on a civilian mobile phone. Last but by no means

The Codan 2110M HF manpack radio is interoperable with both commercial and military-grade radios. It also includes advanced encryption and frequency-hopping to preserve security. (Codan)

Codan’s 2110 transceiver has been designed as an all-purpose HF manpack

radio. The radio can be used for a range of applications and has been

ergonomically designed. The company claims that the radio is the most rugged

that it has ever produced. (Codan)


least the radios have an embedded software modem supporting email and chat applications at a rate of up to 6Kbps. Also showcased at Eurosatory was Codan’s 3G ALE (Automatic Link

Cobham’s Mincan improves battlefield communications by providing a compact interference cancellation system. Essentially this works to remove mutual interference caused by several closely-located RF transceivers. (Cobham)

Establishment) standard which allows a data throughput rate of between 0.075 to 9.6Kbps even over noisy HF channels. Codan’s 3G ALE allows for faster link establishment thanks to its

use of both Global Positioning System and non-GPS time synchronisation.

DaTronAlso present at this year’s Eurosatory exhibition was Datron World Communications of California. One of the peculiarities of this San Diego-based company is to almost entirely focus its radio systems marketing strategy on the export market and develops a wide range of sets to suit many different requirements and as differing pocket depths. On 20th March, the company announced that it had received certification from the JITC for its RT7700 tactical HF transceiver. The certification confirms that the radio conforms to Military Standard 188-141B (see above) regarding ALE specifications. Datron’s RT7700 is a digital HF radio which can be used either as a desktop or rack-mounted configuration for voice and data communications.

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The RT7700 is joined by several other products in the company’s portfolio including the RT7700H IP-addressable HF SDR. Long distance communications can be provided by the RT7000 tactical HF radio which can be used as a vehicular or fixed system radio. An HF manpack

communications are taken care of using the firms’ famous PRC2100V Spectre-V transceiver, which is highly robust against electronic countermeasures, offering communications security and embedded GPS services. The PRC2100V is available either in 75W mobile or 10W manpack configuration. Another member of the Spectre-V family is the PRC2150 transceiver which provides tactical VHF communications and is available in either 10W manpack or 75W mobile configurations. The radio includes 100 programmable memory channels, embedded GPS, optional encryption and excellent harsh environment performance. In addition, Datron produces a tactical VHF/FM 5W manpack via its PRC1077 set, which is available in a 50W mobile form. This radio can be immersed in up to one metre of water and has a long mission life thanks to its low power consumption.

As a complement to the handheld radios, Datron manufactures the PRC-1070-5/1080-5 VHF/FM squad radios offering 100mW and 5W of output power. While the PRC-1080/5 offers

built-in partial or full frequency hopping and digital encryption, the addition of a single module will allow the PRC-1070-5 to be upgraded to a similar standard.

GilCaT anD elekTrobiTEurosatory also saw Gilat Satcom unveil its Suricate Iridium link and Iridium Tactical Radio Dynamic Relay systems. The former uses the Iridium communications satellite constellation to connect remote and underground facilities to the Iridium network. This is facilitated by the use of an antenna that can be positioned up to six kilometres from the facility utilising the link. Satellite communications can be sent and received by up to three satellite telephones. The Iridium Tactical Radio Dynamic Relay system can be used to connect headquarters units to tactical communications networks via the Iridium network. Deliveries have already started to customers in the United States and Europe.

Finland’s Elektrobit demonstrated its Tactical Wireless IP Network at Eurosatory. The Tactical Wireless IP Network essentially uses a broadband wireless architecture across a mobile ad hoc network which can be deployed in any location, according to the company. This enables the formation of an independent IP network which are compatible with existing deployed communications infrastructures.

elbiT sysTeMsIsrael’s Elbit Systems has had a busy year with the release of its MSR-3000 man-portable Special Forces satellite communications system. The MSR-3000 provides broadband satcoms via a single compact unit. The highly rugged design of the MSR-3000 provides good performance in even the most harsh operating conditions with low power consumption. The MSR-3000 forms part of Elbit Systems’ InterSky 4M satcom broadband tactical communications set which can deliver voice, data and video communications for static, mobile and deployed users.

Datron’s RT7700 HF radio is an IP-addressable system which can support voice and data communications. The radio can be used in either a desktop or rack-mounted configuration and can be customised with a range of specific accessories. (Armada/EHB)

Datron Communications’ PRC7700H HF SDR manpack is JITC certified and can be used in either a manpack or desktop configuration, supporting voice and data communications. (Armada/EHB)

In terms of handheld radios, Datron produces the HH7700 VHF/FM radio which has three selectable 500mW, 2W and 5W power output settings. A standard battery offers up to ten hours of endurance, while 18 hours of endurance can be ensured with an accompanying high-capacity battery. (Armada/EHB)

in the form of the PRC1099A transceiver is available 20 watts of output power. VHF


The company’s Special Forces communications portfolio has been further enhanced via the Tadiran PNR-1000A personal network radio. Designed to provide permanent, continuous communications in challenging urban warfare environments where built-up areas can play havoc with tactical communications, the PNR-1000A offers full duplex voice communications, dynamic network architecture and connectivity to long-range networks. Up to six speakers can be accommodated using intra-team wireless conferencing with the ability to link back to long-haul HF and V/UHF networks via a vehicular tactical radio.

At the command post level, Elbit Systems has designed the Tadiran GRX-4000 dual-band high-capacity line-of-sight broadband radio relay system. The product offers dual mode and dual band communications with data transfer rates of up to 100 megabits-per-second (Mpbs) and line-of-sight ranges in excess of 40km.

Meanwhile, Elbit’s line of handheld software-defined radios has grown with the development of the Tadiran SDR-7200HH radio which offers simultaneous voice, video and data transmissions using a single narrowband 25khz channel, with a wideband channel being used for high speed data traffic. Combining these narrowband and wideband high-

Amongst other Datron hand-held applications, but more civilian-oriented, is the Guardian II. A tri-band VHF set, it has recently passed the Project 25 CAP test, which is a voluntary programme aimed at assessing a product’s against 25 quality requirements. (Armada/EHB)

Elbit Systems’ Tadiran PRC-710MB multi-band radio weighs under 800

grams with the company claiming that the system is one of the lightest and

most advanced radios of its kind on the market. (Elbit Systems)


performance waveforms the radio can handle data at a speed of 115kbps across the 25khz V/UHF channel, and up to 1Mbps across the UHF channel.

General DynaMiCsGeneral Dynamics was involved in the largest deployment yet of JTRS-HMS AN/PRC-155 Manpack, AN/PRC-154 Rifleman Radios and the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) in mid-May so as to allow the US Army to operationally evaluate the next generation of the force’s high-speed ground forces communications systems.

The WIN-T high-speed, high-capacity communications backbone links warfighters to the American Department of Defence’s Global Information Grid. The WIN-T is being rolled out in a series of increments, with Increment-2 being put through its paces during this deployment at White Sands Missile Range, New

The company received an order from the DoD in July last year for the production of AN/PRC-154 and AN/PRC-155 radios of which General Dynamics will produce 6,250 and 100 respectively. General Dynamics and Thales (see below) will build the AN/PRC-154 radios with General Dynamics and Rockwell Collins manufacturing the AN/PRC-155 systems. Along with commencing AN/PRC-154 production, the firm announced in December 2011 that the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation of this radio had been completed. This was the last military-mandated test prior to the radios entering production.

harrisThe name Harris is synonymous with tactical communications and the company is currently engaged in fulfilling a range of orders for customers across the world. On 14th May, it announced an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract for AN/PRC-117G Falcon-III radios to be supplied to the United States Air Force. The AN/PRC-117G can perform mobile ad hoc networking and be used for voice and data communications. Harris also says that the AN/PRC-117G is the first JTRS Software Communications Architecture-certified and National Security Agency Type-1 certified wideband manpack radio. A similar contract was concluded on 18th April to supply AN/PRC-117G manpacks

to the United States Special Operations Command. Earlier that same month, Harris had secured an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract to supply Unity land mobile radios as part of the United States Marine Corps Enterprise Land Mobile Radio programme. This will outfit first responders at Marine Corps bases across the world with Unity XG-100M and XG-100P full spectrum multiband radios. The Corps is also acquiring AN/PRC-117G manpack radios alongside AN/VRC-114 vehicular amplifier adapters to equip the service’s Mine-Resistance Ambush Protected (Mrap) vehicles. The acquisition of these radios will provide satcom on-the-move services for the Mrap vehicles. A contract was also concluded in October last year to provide AN/PRC-117G radios for the US Army as part of an initiative to modernise the service’s Brigade Combat Team tactical communications. These radios will be delivered to the army along with AN/VRC-114 amplifier adapters.

Along with the AN/PRC-117G and Unity XG-100M/P radios, Harris was contracted in January 2012 to provide AN/PRC-152A Falcon-III handheld radios to the Department of Defence. The company says that the AN/PRC-

Elbit System’s Tadiran PNR-1000A personal network radio is optimised to provide communications in built-up areas which can traditionally pose difficulties for tactical radio systems. The PNR-1000A offers full duplex voice communications. (Elbit Systems)

Mexico. Increment-2 extends the network to company level and provides an initial on-the-move capability from Division to Company level.

In February this year, General Dynamics also demonstrated secure voice and data communications using its AN/PRC-155 JTRS HMS radio using the Mobile User Objective System (Muos) satcom waveform. This provides encrypted, beyond-line-of-sight communications with a global

The SDR-7200HH handheld SDR is one of Elbit Systems’ latest products. The

radio performs simultaneous voice, video and data transmissions, and can

perform data transfer rates of up to one megabit-per-second. (Elbit Systems)

reach. Given that the AN/PRC-155 carries two channels, one channel can be used for line-of-sight communications which can then link to the second channel carrying the Muos waveform permitting worldwide communications.


Harris Communications is also responsible for the RF-7800T-HH Situational Awareness Video Receiver which is available in a handheld configuration. The RF-7800T-HH includes an embedded GPS and has 99 channel presets. (Harris)

152A NSA-Type-1 certified handheld radio allows dismounted troops to send and receive voice, data and video imagery, and forms the next generation of the AN/PRC-152(C) handheld radio. The AN/PRC-152A supports the Harris Adaptive Networking Wideband Waveform along with Sincgars (Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System), VHF and UHF line-of-sight communications, HaveQuick UHF frequency hopping

and tactical satellite communications waveforms, along with waveforms supported by other combat net radios.

Harris has also recently concluded a number of contracts with customers abroad. These have included a $12.4

The US Army’s Command Post Node has been designed for rapid deployment

and uses a High-band Networking Radio which offers Type-1 encryption and

which can link users to the SiprNet and NiprNet services to brigade and below

formations. (US Army)

Of course, the range of coverage offeredby a tactical radio net often needs to beincreased both in terms of traffic handledandgeographical footprint. This iswhere theEID’s ER-525V comes in. Offering both arange extension node, and a gatewaybetween tactical radio nets, the ER-525Vincludes two 50W PRC-525 transceiverswith the whole system handling voice anddata communications at up to 64 kilobits-per-second capacity. Three modes ofoperation are available with the ER-525Vincluding fixed frequency, digital fixedfrequency and frequency-hopping options.

I SMART BATTERIESEffectively any tactical radio is little morethan a box of wires and circuit boardswithout an accompanying power supply.Micro Power Electronics provides a widearray of batteries specifically intended topower tactical radios. The firm’srechargeable batteries are available inNiMH,Li-Ironand lithium-Polymer configurations.Customers requiring disposable batteriescan opt for the company’s lithium primarycellswhich canbe used straight off the shelf,even when they have been stored for up to

seven years. These primary batteries aremanufactured in various lithiumcombinations including lithium sulphurdioxide and lithium thionyl chloride.

Meanwhile,MicroPowerElectronics’ lineof Smart Batteries can communicate their

health to the user via an integral circuitlocated in the battery pack, which canprovide a run-time within one percentaccuracy during the entire life span of thebattery.

High-powermicro fuel cells also provide

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Germany's Imtradex manufactures a range of tactical radio accessories. These includethe Aurelis handheld microphone which can be used alongside a number ofdifferent tactical radio systems. (Imtradex)


million order from a Latin American customer for an integrated wireless voice and data network to provide communications between government officials and the armed services. The contract includes the provision of Harris’s OpenSky land mobile radio system which supports public safety communications and which can integrate with military tactical radio communications via the company’s NetworkFirst interoperability gateway. Federal officials will receive the company’s P5400 portable and M5300 mobile radios, with Harris RF-5800H and RF-5800V HF manpack and handheld radios providing beyond line-of-sight communications, along with a lightweight radio for line-of-site traffic. RF-5800H Falcon-III HF manpack sets, lightweight body-worn RF-7800S wideband Secure Personal Radios and RF-5800M Falcon-II multiband handheld systems are being supplied to the Government of Iraq under a contract worth $51 million which the company announced on 8th March.

Harris’s Falcon family has sold well around the Middle East with the company announcing in March a contract from an undisclosed Middle Eastern nation to supply RF-7800S radios, RF-7800V VHF Combat Net Radios, and RF-7800W High Capacity Line-of-Sight systems. This is in addition to the RF-5800M and RF-5800H sets (see above) which will be supplied as part of the contract. AN/PRC-152(C) radios are meanwhile being procured by the Australian Department of Defence as part of a $235 million contract to help fulfil the country’s Joint Project 2072 tactical communications modernisation programme. Brazil has also joined the Falcon family, following a contract worth $10.7 million for the acquisition of RF-7800V vehicular and RF-7800S Secure Personal Role (SPR) radios. The RF-7800V handheld combat net radios will be teamed with the company’s RF-7800V-V501 vehicular amplifier adapter for use in tanks, armoured personnel carriers and logistics vehicles.

In terms of European customers, Poland has awarded Harris a $5 million contract to supply AN/PRC-117G multiband manpack radios for

Harris’s RF-5800H-MP high-frequency radio is the most advanced manpack radio currently available, according to the company. It features third-generation Automatic Link Establishment. (Harris)

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ground-to-ground and ground-to-air communications. Similar radios are also being acquired by Canada, following a contract concluded with Harris in August last year. As well as receiving AN/PRC-117G radios, the Government of Canada ordered the RF-7800B tactical communications systems to provide Canadian AN/PRC-117G users with a secure beyond line-of-sight communications system.

Much as Harris has been fulfilling its obligations for deliveries to its customers within and beyond the United States, it has also been unveiling new products. In February 2012, the company unveiled its Harris Falcon Networking System. This effectively allows video, data and command and control services to be delivered to the user via cloud computing techniques. Effectively, this new product combines a computer server with a Falcon-III wideband tactical radio. The radio can be used to access applications

which are held on the computer server. The Falcon Networking System enables users to access these services using ruggedized tablets and smartphones via a 4G tactical cellular module.

During the same month, the firm unveiled two new high-performance waveforms; Quicklook-3 and Quicklook-Wide. The latter frequency-hoping waveform provides up to 64Kbps of data while Quicklook-3 provides an ultra-high speed frequency-agile performance. These waveforms are available on Harris RF-7800V VHF handheld Falcon-III combat net radios. The company says that the introduction of the Quicklook-3 on this product makes it the only tactical frequency-hopping radio with such agility.

RF7800H – In May of this year, Harris won a contract worth $75 million to supply Falcon-III multiband manpack radios to the United States Air Force. The radios will provide a range of services to the Air Force which will be operated by ground controllers and combat controllers. (Harris)

In terms of new radio products, Harris has unveiled the RF-7800S-LR Leader Radio which has embedded geo-location, encryption and a built-in Personal Data

Assistant (PDA). The addition of a PDA allows the user to support cartographic applications alongside voice, data, video and imagery communications. It effectively is an upgrade to the Harris’s Team Radio and forms the core of the company’s Falcon Fighter modular soldier modernisation system.

During the Eurosatory exhibition in June 2012, Harris introduced its RF-7800H Falcon-III wideband manpack radio, which the company claims is the world’s “smallest, lightest and fastest wideband high-frequency radio.” The RF-7800H can be used to transmit video data, pictures, maps and large files over-the-horizon using HF transmissions. The firm claims that the data rate offered are

“up to ten times greater than current HF manpacks.” At the same time, the radio, which can function on a single battery, is around 20 percent smaller than other previous HF manpacks on the market, according to Harris literature. The Software Communications Architecture-based operating system allows the radio to be upgraded with ease and the company says that it can offer an alternative to Satcom for long-range data transmission.

In addition to the RF-7800H Falcon-

The US Army’s Secret Internet Protocol Router Network, better known as SiprNet, uses a number of different communications systems, including the AN/PRC-152 to move around data traffic classified as secret. (US Army)


CNR2000

HH7700

PRC-117G

PRC1099A

RF-7800M-MP

Spearhead

Power: 10 to 25 Watts

Waveforms: CW (J2A), USB/LSB/FM voice, FSK, NPSK phase shift keying and NQAM

Encryption: Proprietary transec, comsec

Notes: Elos/blos/los, embedded GPS; HF-to-HF/VHF-to-HF rebroadcast, Gen-3 Ale.

Power: 0.5, 2 or 5 Watts

Waveforms: Simplex over FM

Encryption: Optional voice scrambler

Notes: Splash proof, alphanumeric LCD, 2320 or 4640 channels (*300 Hz to 3 MHz FM), Vox and Whisper modes.

Power: 10 or 25 Watts (20 in Satcom mode)

Waveforms: Sincgars, Have Quick II, VHF, UHF, AM, HPW, Dama, ANW2, 181B Tacsat

Encryption: Sierra II NSA-certified Type I

Notes: IP-based wideband networking radio, transmits 5 Mbps over tactical Internet, 50,000th radio delivered toUSMC April 2010.

Power: 5, 20, 100 and 400 Watts

Waveforms: Simplex or half-duplex USB, LSB, CW, and Ame

Encryption: Embedded ECCM and Comse

Notes: 100 programmable channels, Fed-Std-1054 Ale,built-in test, 5 Watts continuous duty.

Power: 20 Watts

Waveforms: Narrowband VHF low, VHF high, UHF low. Wideband UHF, ANW2

Encryption: AES 256-bit

Notes: Fixed, manpack or vehicular, embedded 12-channel GPS, 2400 bps Melpe, ad hoc networking.

Power: 0.1, 1* or 5 Watts

Waveforms: Nato squelch, clear or secure voice, Sincgars, tactical Internet

Encryption: Secure orthogonal frequency hopping,country-specific crypto

Notes: Embedded Ota position reporting, 12-channel GPS receiver, *International version.

Selex

Datron

Harris

Datron

Harris

ITT

1.6 to 60 MHz

30 to 88 MHz *VHF

30 MHz to 2 GHz

1.6 to 30 MHz

30 MHz to 2 GHz

30 to 88 MHz

3.7 kg

0.48 kg

5.4 kg

5.1 kg

3.6 kg

0.65 kg

2110M

HF-6000HDR

PR4G F@stnet

PRC-710

RF-3010M-HH

Soldier Radio-M

Power: 5 or 25 Watts

Waveforms: Mil-STD-188-110A/B and Stanag-4539

Encryption: Wideband and band-limited frequency hopping and voice encoding

Notes: Supplied to Afghan Border Police and Kyrgyz Republic recently completed training.

Power: 20 Watts manpack/125 vehicular

Waveforms: Voice/data, CW

Encryption: Digital/analogue encryption

Notes: Selective calling, digital squelch, pro -prietary orthogonal and synchronous networks w/o master station, data up to 9.6 kbps, adaptive data algorithm, frequency hopping ECCM.

Power: 2 Watts hand-held (see notes)

Waveforms: F@stnet, isochronous TDMA

Encryption: ECCM against narrow- and broadband jammers

Notes: Radio family uses Mux mode, continuous voice and data, 10 Watts manpack 50 vehicle.

Power: 5 Watts (20 w/amp)

Waveforms: Mil-STD-188-110A/B and Stanag-4539

Encryption: Frequency hopping and voice

Notes: Up to 16 kbps data with adaptive algorithm, orthogonal network, full freq band.

Power: 0.25 to 5 Watts

Waveforms: VHF, UHF, AM, FM (Type 1 AES)

Encryption: Type 1 Suite B AES, Type 3 AES, Des-OFB

Notes: First tactical to receive NSA certification for

Type 1 Suite B.

Power: variable Wattage (see notes)

Waveforms: Soldier Radio Waveform, JTRS Bowman (JBW), capable of hosting others

Encryption: Programmable crypto subsystem

Notes: VHF 30-88MHz 5 W, UHF 225-450 MHz 2 W, L-band 1250 - 1390/1710-1850 MHz 2 W, auto Gig connectivity.

Codan

Elbit Tadiran

Thales

Elbit Tadiran

Harris

ITT

1.6 to 30 MHz

1.5 to 30 MHz

30 to 88 MHz

30 to 88 MHz

30 to 512 MHz

30 to 88 MHz

2.9 kg

3.9 kg

0.87 kg

0.7 kg

1.2 kg

0.73 kg

armada Compendium Tactical Radios 4/2012


EnHCDR

Microlight DH500

PRC-150(C)

PRC2100V

RF-7800-T-HH

SR600

Power: adaptive up to 20 Watts

Waveforms: VHF/HF Centaur network data backbone

Encryption: AES 256-bit

Notes: Supply UK MoD’s M-Dor in 2011 under $ 15 million contract. Now four Mbps data.


Waveforms: Eight-hop relay, CPSM with DSSS, TDMA, CDMA and FDMA

Encryption: AES for secure-but-unclassified transmission

Notes: Web browser, VoIP, data, video and position info.

Power: 1, 5, 20 Watts

Waveforms: HF SSB, AM SSB, CW, VHF, FM, Melp, LPC-10

Encryption: NSA-certified Type 1, Melp vocoder, serial-tone ECCM, coalition Citadel

Notes: 75 programmable presets, Ale & datalink protocols, wideband FSK data to 16 kbps.

Power: 0.5 to 10 Watts *

Waveforms: VHF, voice, data, FM FF, simplex or half-duplex

Encryption: full/partial freq hopping, digital encryption

Notes: 12-chnl GPS, 16 Kbps data, * 0.5 to 75 W vehicle/fixed, selective calling, voice priority

Power: works with Harris radios

Waveforms: L-, S-, C-bands FM, C-band FSK, L-band SOQPSK

Encryption: Type 2 AES 128/256-bit

Notes: Situational Awareness Video Receiver, full-motion video/sensor data from multiple platforms, streams video into tactical manet.


Waveforms: Multi-hop IP-based voice & data

Encryption: Embedded AES 256-bit

Notes: Supports parallel voice networks, ad hoc IPv4 node (DHCP/routing), five voice nets.

ITT

Raytheon

Harris

Datron

Harris

Kongsberg

225 to 450 MHz

225 MHz to 2.0 GHz

1.6 to 60 MHz

30 to 88 MHz

L/L/C-bands

225 to 400 MHz

14 kg

0.76 kg

4.7 kg

4.2 kg

1.2 kg

0.7 kg

CNR-9000

JTRS GMR

PRC-148

PRC-2090

RF-7800S-TR

Spearnet

Power: 5 to 20 Watts

Waveforms: High data rate combat net radio

Encryption: Orthogonal frequency hopping andanti-jamming

Notes: 32 kbps data transfer, optional vocoder, GPS, streaming on-the-move video.

Power: In development

Waveforms: WNW, SRW, Sincgars, EPLRS, UHF satcom, HF

Encryption: Crypto subsystem

Notes: One-4 channels, completed field experiments March 2011, customer tests expected 3rd qtr 2011.


Waveforms: Have Quick I/II, Sincgars

Encryption: NSA Type 1, Type II DES

Notes: Supplied to the US Army in 2007. AN/PRC-148V3/V4 Jem upgrade makes it compatible with JTRS frequency range.

Power: 10 or 30 Watts*

Waveforms: USB, LSB, AM, CW, AFSK, Ale

Encryption: 5 or 25/sec freq hopping w/o master station, Secure Call voice encryptor

Notes: 500 programmable channels, GPS tracking, digital crypto handset interface, *100 Watts in vehicle dock, 64-character SMS.


Waveforms: FSK or GMSK data/voice

Encryption: Selectable Citadel II Asic or AES

Notes: Full-duplex to six talkers, GPS position report, range to one kilometre in jungle, automatic whisper mode.

Power: 0.6 Watts

Waveforms: Mil-STD-188-110A/B and Stanag-4539, secure voice/data/video

Encryption: DSSS, AES 256-bit

Notes: Demonstrated out to a range of six km, AES key management, tactical Lan on-the-move, IPv4, six Mbpsdata burst.

Elbit Tadiran

Boeing

Thales

Barrett

Harris

ITT

30 to 108 MHz

2.0 MHz to 2.0 GHz

30 to 512 MHz

1.6 to 30 MHz

350 to 450 MHz

1.2 to 1.4 GHz

3 kg

0.76 kg

0.95 kg

5.2 kg

0.30 kg

0.7 kg

a Compendium of Tactical radios



F@stnet Twin

MR300xU

PRC-154

PRC-9661

RT-1523

URC-200 (V2)

Power: 5 Watts UHF & VHF

Waveforms: PR4G F@stnet, CNR, iMux, Super mux, St@rmille, air-ground Nextwave

Encryption: In development

Notes: Simultaneous voice/data, dual-channel SDR, embedded GPS, 2D map facility.

Power: 10 to 150 Watts (see notes)

Waveforms: Ale 2/3G, AM/FM, SSB, Stanag 4285 and 4246, Secos, Have Quick I/II

Encryption: Secom-H/-V/-P and digital voice vocoders

Notes: Integrated GPS and position reporting, 72 kbps data, wide variety of waveforms.

Power: 2 Watts UHF, 5 L-band

Waveforms: Soldier Radio Waveform voice and data,UHF, L-band

Encryption: Programmable NSA Type II comsec/transec

Notes: Rifleman Radio, continuous location reporting. Lrip began 7 July 2011.

Power: 1, 2, 5, 10 Watts

Waveforms: VHF/FM, UHF/WBNR, UHF AM/FM, A-CNR

Encryption: Frequency hopping for digital voice and data

Notes: Multi-mode multi-mission SDR, 50 W poweramp available.

Power: 0.1, 5, 50 Watts

Waveforms: Sincgars, tactical Internet

Encryption: Transec, programmable Type 1, six frequency hopping presets

Notes: Secure or clear frequency hopping, 2320 channels, over-the-air remote fill. 500,000th Sincgars radio delivered to US Army April 2010.


Waveforms: VHF/UHF/AM/FM, non-freq hopping Sincgars connectivity

Encryption: AM/FM clear and cipher text with external comsec

Notes: Frequency Enhancement version covers 30 to 90 MHz, range to 60 miles, debuted 1/2010.

Thales

Rohde & Schwarz

GDC4S/Thales

Aselsan

ITT

GDC4S

30 to 88/225 to 512 MHz

25 to 30 MHz

5 to 15 GHz

30 to 512 MHz

30 to 88 MHz

30 to 420 MHz

>1 kg

n/a

1.1 kg

1.4 kg

3.5 kg

4 kg

EPLRS-XF-I

MPT3A

PRC-152(C)

PRC-9651

RO Tactical Radio

St@r Mille-S

Power: up to 50 Watts

Waveforms: Enhanced position, IP Manet

Encryption: AES Encryption

Notes: Sales to Canada and Australia, up to 32 simultaneous independent data paths, auto route establishment, manpack/vehicular/airborne.

Power: 0.5 or 5 Watts

Waveforms: Analogue voice, CVSD, TDMA, CSMA

Encryption: Vocoder, frequency hopping, digital encryptor

Notes: Customisable encryption algorithms, GPS position reporting, 1 metre immersion/2 hours.

Power: 0.25 to 5 Watts (10 in Satcom mode)

Waveforms: Sincgars, VHF, UHF, AM, FM Have Quick, Satcom HPW, Dama, P25 option

Encryption: Sierra II programmable

Notes: Dagr, PLGR GPS interoperable, JTRS-approved, SCA-compliant SDR.

Power: 0.5, 1, 2.5, 4 Watts

Waveforms: VHF/FM, UHF/WBNR, UHF AM/FM, A-CNR

Encryption: Frequency hopping for digital voice and data

Notes: Multi-mode multi-mission SDR.

Power: connects to PC

Waveforms: HF voice and data

Encryption: AES 256 voice/data

Notes: OTM over horizon secure voice, up to five unique networks (soon ten), <400 km range, pole-to-pole comms w/o need for geo sat link.


Waveforms: High data-rate UHF

Encryption: Embedded AES 256-bit

Notes: Also available in vehicular and intra-platoon versions, whisper mode, up to 1.5 km in open terrain; 500 metres urban.

Raytheon

Reutech

Harris

Aselsan

ITT

Thales

225 to 450 MHz

118 to 400 MHz

30 to 512 MHz

30 to 512 MHz

DTCS/Iridium satcom

325 to 470 MHz

8 kg

5 kg

1.1 kg

1.4 kg

0.5 kg

0.37 kg

Tactical radios



Flexnet Four

MRC3005

PRC-525A

PSC-14

Soldier ISR Receiver

WM600

Power: 50 Watts UHF & VHF, open in HF

Waveforms: Flexnet waveform, PR4G F@stnet, open to standard or national waveforms

Encryption: Embedded & customer-specific encryption

Notes: IP-compliant protocols, one to four simultaneous voice, data and video channels.

Power: 0.5 or 5 Watts

Waveforms: FM (F3E) NBFM, SSB, CPFSK, pi/4DQPSK,Link-ZA, Manet

Encryption: Embedded, user customisable

Notes: Fast frequency hopping, embedded GPS, position reporting, 64 kbps in TDMA or CSMA USB, Ethernet, Bluetooth data interfaces.

Power: 0.01, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 10, 20 Watts

Waveforms: HF, VHF, V/UHF, Have Quick II, CNR, PRN, SCRA, IPoA, Secom H/V, Ale 2/3G

Encryption: Frequency hopping and voice

Notes: Syllabic, tone, signal squelch, GPS mode, 72 kbps OFDM data rate, 20-hour autonomy.

Power: 20 Watts

Waveforms: QPSK and 16-Qam forward, 4-ary QPSK return

Encryption: Type 1 Haipe v1.3.5, Firefly key generation

Notes: Secure high-speed IP data/voice over Bgan,(*transmit – 1.225 to 1.559 GHz receive).

Power: 3.5 Watts

Waveforms: FM, FSK, BPSK, O-QPSK

Encryption: Triple DES, AES

Notes: IP-based secure, digital/analogue data/ video ISR receiver/SDR designed for modular soldier systems.


Waveforms: IPv4 multi-hop data or voice & data

Encryption: Embedded AES 256-bit, multi-hop voice

Notes: Long-range C4ISR SDR comms, 2.5 Mbps data, provides DHCP routing..

Thales/R. Collins

Reutech

EID

Viasat

L-3

Kongsberg

2 MHz to 2 GHz

33 to 88 MHz

1.5 to 512 MHz

*1.6265 to 1.6605 GHz

Ku/C/S/L-bands

225 to 400 MHz

0.6 kg

<5 kg

5.9 kg

11 kg

0.9 kg

4.1 kg

Flexnet One

MR3000P

PRC-155

PSC-5D

RT-1702

Wavpac

Power: 50 Watts UHF & VHF

Waveforms: Waveform customisation, supports Flexnet and PR4G F@stnet waveforms

Encryption: Programmable Infosec, customer-specific encryption

Notes: SCA 2.2-compliant V/UHF narrow/wide-band, multimedia to six Mbps, first int’l SDR.

Power: 5 Watts

Waveforms: VHF Secom-P digital EPM jam-resistant waveform

Encryption: frequency hopping and digital encryption

Notes: M3TR family. Optional GPS receiver, remote control unit, nine network presets.

Power: 20 Watts

Waveforms: Soldier Radio Waveform, Muos, Sincgars, EPLRS, HF SSB w/Ale, Satcom

Encryption: Type 1 and 2 embedded comsec and transec

Notes: Two-channel JTRS HMS manpack, four channels by networking. Lrip began 7 July 2011.

Power: 10 or 20 Watts

Waveforms: Sincgars, Satcom, Dama, Have Quick I/II, AM, FM, FSK, B/SB/DESB/SOQ PSK

Encryption: Wide variety of voice and data encryption capabilities, embedded comsec

Notes: NSA/JITC certified, Melpe vocoder, embedded tactical Internet/joint range extension protocols, embedded IP stack.

Power: 0.1, 5, 10, 50 Watts

Waveforms: Sincgars, secure voice, IP data

Encryption: Default orthogonal hopsets/six presets

Notes: International Sincgars radio. 12-channel GPS, voice/data retransmit, position reporting, waypoint management, four-km remote control.

Power: 1, 5 or 20 Watts

Waveforms: Mil-STD-188-110B, Qam, Stanag 4415,WB FSK, Melpe

Encryption: AES, voice & data 128, 192 or 256-bit key length

Notes: HF, VHF, Internal GPS, immersion one metre for 30 minutes, 101 programmable presets.

Thales/R. Collins

Rohde & Schwarz

GDC4S/R. Collins

Raytheon

ITT

L-3 Linkabit

30 to 512 MHz

25 to 146 MHz

2 MHz to 2.5 GHz

30 to 512 MHz

30 to 88 MHz

1.6 to 108 MHz

in development

n/a

6.5 kg

5.2 kg

3.5 kg

5.78 kg



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Issue 2/2012 INTERNATIONAL April/May

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INTERNATIONAL: The trusted source for defence technology information since 1976

Special Ops &Soldier Small Arms,Sights & Accessories

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Drones

2012-13

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armada_final.indd 3 5/25/12 12:58:14 PM


III, Harris unveiled the RF-7800M-HH Falcon-III handheld tactical radio, which has 5W of output power and operates across the 30MHz to 512MHz frequency range. This wideband radio uses Harris’s Adaptive Networking Wideband Waveform which enables the transmission and reception of voice, video and data traffic. The RF-7800M-HH can be used with Harris’s RF-7800M-MP wideband manpack radio.

During Eurosatory, Harris also announced that it had introduced the RF-7800W-OU500 high-capacity line-

of-sight radio. This can be used to form the backbone for a wide-area battlefield communications network to connect brigade and battalion headquarters to forward-deployed units at company level and below. The data throughput of the radio is in the order of 400Mbps, with a dual-band capability which takes the radios’ operating frequency to 5.8GHz.

iaiOn 3 April this year, Israel Aerospace Industries demonstrated its new Long Term Evolution 4th Generation Tactical Communication Network. Known as the LTE TAC4G, the network allows wideband communications between different command echelons and military units, facilitated with 4th Generation cellular technology similar to that

found in military-specification secure smartphones. The TAC4G architecture includes a core LTE communications network, LTE base stations, smart phones and modems.

iTT exelisAcross the Atlantic, ITT Exelis is heavily involved in the United Kingdom’s Bowman tactical communications system which provides voice and data services across HF, VHF and UHF networks. A major milestone on the Bowman programme was reached in February 2012 with the announcement that the company had delivered an updated JTRS Bowman Waveform (JBW) to the JTRS Information Repository. The JBW allows American and British forces to communicate with each other using the secure VHF Bowman waveform.

Moreover, ITT Exelis is developing the Soldier Radio-Multifunctional (SR-M) SDR which will be delivered to Britain for forthcoming JBW trials and assessments. ITT Exelis is one of several companies involved in the American JTRS initiative. In October last year the JTRS Joint Program Executive Officer certified the company’s Common Core Operating Environment as compliant with Software Communications Architecture 2.2.2 (SCA 2.2.2) and Application Programming Interface (API) standards. Any radios offered for sale into the JTRS programme have to be compatible with SCA and API standards. The Common Core Operating Environment forms a key part of ITT Exelis Soldier Radio, Rifleman Radio and SideHat.

At the 2011 Idex exhibition in Abu Dhabi Harris presented (from left to right) its new range of RF-7800V-HH hand-held VHF sets, the vehicular power amplifier on which the hand-held docks, and finally the RF-7800V-V51x Base radio system. (Armada/EHB)

Also particularly highlighted at the 2011 Idex exhibition were the Harris RF-7800S person secure radio and RF-7400E-VP video processor seen here (Armada/EHB)

ITT Exelis’s Spearhead HF radio was unveiled last year at the DSEI defence exhibition in Docklands. This SDR contains a multiband transceiver for HF and VHF traffic which can support advanced waveforms and encryption. (ITT Exelis)

Certifying the Common Core Operating Environment as JTRS compliant will greatly reduce the cost of porting SCA waveforms into ITT tactical radios.

Staying with the JTRS, ITT Exelis has teamed with Northrop Grumman to compete for the US Army’s


new vehicle-mounted JTRS programme known as the Mid-Tier Networking Vehicle Radio (MNVR) which supersedes the cancelled Boeing JTRS GMR (see above). Should the two companies be selected to fulfil the MNVR requirement, they will provide their Freedom-350 multifunction radio. The DoD cancelled the acquisition of the JTRS-GMR from Boeing in October last year. The MNVR programme is expected to equip eight Brigade Combat Team-sized formations with up to 1,000 radios, with around 100 radios equipping each formation. Although Boeing will no longer provide the JTRS-GMR to the DoD, the National Security Agency is continuing the certification of the JTRS-GMR wideband networking waveforms which can then be made available to the MNVR vendors to help reduce costs.

ITT Exelis has secured some other

important export orders over the past twelve months, not least of which has been a contract to supply the Danish Army with High Capacity Data Radios. Over 100 of these systems will be supplied to Denmark.

Other relatively new products include the Spearhead HF radio which was unveiled at last years’ Defence and Security Equipment International Exhibition in London. The Spearhead HF Radio includes a multiband HF/VHF transceiver in a software-defined radio which can support digital voice, geolocation, advanced data waveforms and encryption. ITT Exelis says that the Spearhead HF offers secure interoperability with the Sincgars RT-1702 and Spearhead VHF radios.

PaCsTarIn June PacStar of Oregon launched the PacStar 3700 TacSat Nano “next-generation” satellite radio. This set can provide multiband voice communications using a variety of waveforms, ViaSat messaging services and radio-over-internet-protocol (RoIP) services. The PacStar 3700 can be used alongside the AN/PRC-152 mutliband radio. In fact, the PacStar 3700 package includes two AN/PRC-152 multiband

radios, three two-channel RoIP gateways and a PC to provide communications management and written messaging. The package includes batteries, battery chargers, cabling, antennae, handsets and amplifiers. The PacStar 3700 provides soldiers with UHF satellite communications using the AN/PRC-152 handsets, plus a RoIP capability providing internet access and a gateway for up to six radio networks, not to mention the functionality provided by the AN/PRC-152 handsets.

rayTheonThe giant American defence contractor Raytheon seems to have a presence in a myriad markets, and tactical radios is no exception. In April this year, the company announced that the DoD had accepted the company’s Next Generation Mobile Ad Hoc Networking Waveform (NMW) into its JTRS waveform library. The company says that this is the first occasion in which a waveform not developed directly under the JTRS programme, or as a legacy programme, has been accepted into the JTRS waveform library.

The NMW can enable high speed applications such as live video streaming from drones and real-time situational awareness. Raytheon also uses this

Harris Communications’ AN/PRC-152 handheld multiband radio claims to be the most widely deployed multi-band, multi-mission radio available which offers SCA-compliant Type-1 encryption. (US Army)

In May of this year, Harris won a contract worth $75 million to supply Falcon-III multiband manpack radios to the United States Air Force. The radios will provide a range of services to the Air Force which will be operated by ground controllers and combat controllers. (Harris)

Harris’s RF-7800W product line provides quick-to-deploy high-capacity

line-of-sight point-to-point, or point-to-multipoint communications. This

can allow high bandwidth data communications between fixed and

mobile users. (Harris)


waveform in its Mobile Ad Hoc Interoperability Network Gateway (Maingate) radio, which arose from a joint development with the Darpa. The Maingate pursues two objectives: to ensure coalition

Link 16 product available on the market, which can handle full J-series Link-16 messages. The TTR is aimed at customers that have either monetary or space constraints related to the procurement of a typical Mids-LVT-sized Link 16 terminal. Rockwell Collins emphasises that the TacNet Tactical terminal is in no way aimed at replacing or circumventing the existing marketplace for the Mids programme, but only to complement the larger programme in order to bring vital situational awareness to every platform in the battlefield directly.

Beyond the TacNet product, Rockwell Collins says the company’s GRC-171/-211 ground V/UHF radio products will be upgraded and modernized through its 721S and SmartBlade radios. The SmartBlade is an AM/FM ground-based air traffic control radio, while the 721S is a high power, fixed-site AM/FM V/UHF set.

rohDe anD sChwarzGerman tactical radio specialists Rohde and Schwarz took advantage of Eurosatory to showcase a number of new developments in their product lines. Of particular interest was the firm’s Secom-V out-of-band hailing waveform which can be used with the firm’s flagship M3TR family of multi-band multi-mode SDRs. The Secom-V waveform allows HF transmissions to be picked up even when a radio is operating in the UHF or VHF modes. In addition, the company has issued some new ALE standards including the ALE-2G/ALE-3G which enables accurate time synchronisation for faster linking which can be performed in less than ten seconds with this software standard.

Other ALE software additions include xDL protocols built into the ALE-3G standard (see above), which offers a built-in xDL data link protocol allowing the point-to-point delivery of datagrams across an HF network. Small datagrams can be delivered with the xDL’s integral 0.3Kbps Low-latency Data Link (LDL), while large datagrams can be transmitted using the xDL’s high throughput data link protocol, supporting a data rate of up to 3.4Kbps. Meanwhile, the xDL’s high-throughput data link can achieve speeds of 8.5Kbps.

Other items released into the Rohde and Schwarz M3TR tool kit include a secure voice and data service using

the company’s RSCA cryptographic algorithm, alongside the ingenious Last Ditch Voice (LDV). The latter can temporarily store digitised voice messages and then transmit that message using an LDL. Messages of up to 60 seconds can be stored which can then be transmitted even across poor quality HF networks. Furthermore, Rohde and Schwarz notes that voice-over internet protocol traffic can be transmitted using the IP interface equipping the firm’s M3TR and M3SR radio families, while a phone patch allows telephonic communications to connect with a tactical radio network.

selex elsaGSelex Communications has rebranded itself as Selex Elsag following the company’s merger with Elsag Datamat. The firm recently completed the upgrade of the Brazilian Army’s Sistac tactical communications system which has been in use by the force since 1998. The Sistac system provides voice and data services using encrypted and non-encrypted transmissions and can link to single-channel radio systems and to the public telephone network. The

Claimed by the company as the first international radio offering wideband communications and networking, plus combat-proven legacy voice waveforms, the capabilities of Harris’s RF-7800M-HH radio are neatly enclosed in this handheld system. (Harris)

At the recent (June 2012) Eurosatory exhibtion, Harris introduced a high-

capacity line-of-sight radio. Designated RF-7800W-OU500, it can be used to form

the backbone for wide-area battlefield communications networks. (Harris)

interoperability and to provide the US Army with a high capacity backhaul mobile networking radio. The radio has been field deployed for the past two years, and the company is promoting the system as a candidate for the Mid-Tier Networking Vehicular Radio programme (see above).

In late June, Raytheon announced that it had completed a series of tests which illustrated that its vehicle-mounted Maingate radios could ensure a large-scale network without the need for fixed infrastructure. During the test, this network was able to continue the transmission of voice, data, text and video footage. According to Raytheon, Maingate can host up to 128 nodes in a single network, while delivering data rates of up to 10Mbps. The firm adds that Maingate can establish a network in under three minutes.

roCkwell CollinsRockwell Collins has had a busy year with its tactical radio products. The firm received production authority for its new Gen5 RT-1939 ARC-210 networked airborne radio which supports the Soldier Radio Waveform. The company claims that the system is the first ever airborne radio employing next generation modernized cryptographic capabilities with advanced airborne networking capabilities.

Rockwell Collins also introduced the RT-1990 Gen5 advanced airborne V/UHF radio as a next-generation SDR. Later this year, Rockwell Collins will release its TacNet Tactical (TTR) radio terminal. The firm claims that this will herald the smallest form factor, greatest range, convection cooled, stand-alone

The Wireless Internet Service Provider roaming

(Wispr) is designed to provide mobile wireless

internet access in a similar way to civilian

smartphone users. The users credentials are

authenticated by a Remote Authentication

Dial-In Use Service server. (Intracom)

Sistac upgrade has been performed to ensure that the Brazilian Army can remain abreast of advances


in communications technologies and to communicate with other non-military agencies in the coming years.

Selex continues to provide a wide range of tactical communications products. These include the firm’s Frontline Soldier Radio (FSR). This platoon- and section-level radio carries encrypted voice communications and can operate as the backbone for command and control, computing and communications networks. The FSR is easily upgraded and dual net functionality is included to allow a platoon commander to monitor the squad’s own communications and higher communications networks simultaneously.

Joining the FSR is the HF-2000 automated HF networked radio. This uses Selex’s third-generation ALE algorithms to ensure that links are maintained. Selex’s Personal Role Radio (PRR) is a lightweight system which typically has a transmission range of circa 500 metres or through around three floors of a building. The radio’s wireless push-to-talk feature has an effective range of around two metres. Battery power provides for 24 hours of operation. The Soldier System Radio Plus provides additional functionality compared to the Personal Role Radio. It can operate across up to 256 separate radio networks and can support up to 32 users with unlimited numbers of listen-only participants.

Meanwhile, the PRR is being upgraded via the Swave initiative which reduces the size of the PRR, while at the same time increasing its battery life. This radio is completely interoperable with the PRR thanks to an optional 2-4Ghz frequency extension. A vehicular version of the SWave is also offered by Selex.

ThalesIt has also been a busy year for Thales, one of Europe’s leading suppliers of ground communications equipment. At the end of March, the company announced that it had commenced deliveries of its SDR Networking Lab. The SDR Networking Lab has been designed to enable customers to develop their own SDR standard waveforms which can then be used with the Software Communications Architecture; pen architecture software which is integral to the JTRS programme.

The SDR Networking Lab contains a ‘Com Lab’ which employs simulation to enable users to specify the network characteristics of their tactical communications and a Waveform Lab to develop, transfer and integrate waveforms onto SDRs. At around the same time that the company was unveiling its SDR Networking Lab, it announced that its FlexNet radio had achieved a data transfer rate of 2Mbps across a range of 35km; a rate which the company says is a four-fold increase on the FlexNet’s

current data rate capabilities. The firm also unveiled its GeoMux

waveform for its PR4G F@stnet tactical radios. This VHF waveform can provide simultaneous voice, data and positional information using two independent radio channels. The first channel handles the voice and data traffic, with the second handling positional information. Thales says that GeoMux will now equip all handheld, manpack and vehicular PR4G F@astnet radios.

Thales is playing a key role in the JTRS initiative. In late October 2011, the company announced that its AN/PRC-148 Enhanced Multiband Inter/Intra Team Radio (JEM) had received UHF satcom waveform certification from the JITC. The certification of this waveform allows soldiers carrying AN/PRC-148 radios to perform satellite communications without having to carry cumbersome satcom equipment.

Another element of JTRS that involves Thales is the AN/PRC-154 Rifleman Radio. The AN/PRC-154 has been developed as part of the JTRS Handheld,

German communications specialist Rohde and Schwarz continues to produce the M3TR family of tactical radios. It has enhanced these products with the addition of new data links and waveforms. (Rohde and Schwarz)

Another member of the Rohde and Schwarz tactical radio family is the

MR3000. This radio covers the HF and VHF/FM frequency ranges. In terms of

performance it boasts a data rate of 64 kilobits per second. (Rohde and Schwarz)

Thales continues to maintain a wide range of tactical radios. These include

the FlexNet which is in service with the French armed forces and which will

eventually be replaced under the Contact programme.(Thales)


Manpack and Small Form Fit (JTRS HMS) programme in conjunction with General Dynamics. In June 2011, the US DoD authorised the purchase of 6,250 AN/PRC-154 radios.

ulTra eleCTroniCsCanada’s Ultra Electronics

point communications system capable of handling significant quantities of data, while ensuring robustness against electronic countermeasures. The HCR incorporates and improves on the best features of Ultra’s battle-proven AN/GRC-245 and AN/GRC-512 radios to form a new platform capable of performing multiple roles.

The single box mast mount radio supports the roles of a High-Capacity Line-of-Sight (HCLOS) radio relay including spectrum efficiency and long range waveforms as well as a true full-band electronic counter-counter measure radio relay. Therefore, it effectively provides two radio types in a single common platform, enabling each relay vehicle to quickly mix and match each mode to suit battlefield conditions. As a software-defined radio, the HCR’s unique architecture facilitates technology insertions while allowing for interoperability with legacy platforms, including the AN/GRC-245 and AN/GRC-512 radios. Ultra designed these radios as high data rate backbone tactical area communications systems. The company is currently under

contract to provide the AN/GRC-245 for the US Army. This radio can provide communications links of 40km, and full duplex data rates of up to 34Mbps full duplex.

russiaA word of two should also be mentioned about Russian tactical radios. Inquiries to Russian communications manufacturers by the author at defence exhibitions with the purpose of obtaining information regarding tactical radios have often been unsuccessful. However, some systems have recently come to light that are worthy of notice. It is known that

Thales’s AN/PRC-148 Mutliband Inter/Intra Team Radio, also known by its MBITR acronym, is a tactical handheld system of which over 100,000 units have been fielded, 31,000 of which are in service with the US Army. (Thales)

The Thales PR4G F@stNet, along with the FlexNet, has recently

been enhanced via the company’s

development of the GeoMux waveform.

(Thales)

unveiled in late May an upgraded version of its High Capacity Radio, which will be capable of handling up to 400Mbps of data. This effectively adds a major increase in bandwidth to a small form factor, rugged radio leveraging technology which has been developed for Ultra’s AN/GRC-245 and AN/GRC-512. The modernisation allows the High Capacity Radio to act as a point-to-

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Russian manufacturers produce the R-163-05R fixed and mobile FM tactical radio, which is thought to only be capable of voice communications and operates in the 44-53.9Mhz segment of the electro-magnetic spectrum.

The R-163-05R is joined by Yaroslavl Radioworks Corps’ R-163-IY. This radio can be used for vehicular, fixed and mobile configurations and, like the preceding system, is used for voice traffic. The radio uses the 30-79.9Mhz frequency range and is slightly heavier than the R-163-05R with a weight of over four kilograms.

In fact, the Yaroslavl Radioworks produces a wide range of radios notably HF radios, VHF systems and UHF transceivers. The company’s HF product line includes four systems: The R-168-1KE Kvartz-N portable radio, R-168-5KNE modernised manpack; and the R-168-100KAE and R-168-100KBE systems.

The R-168-1KE Kvartz-N is a handheld set designed to be used for operations in urban areas and provides

a range of around 300km according to the manufacturer. This radio carries eight preset frequencies and offers 1Khz frequency spacing. The R-168-5KNE provides clear and encrypted voice communications, even under heavy ECM jamming according to the manufacturer. In fixed-frequency mode, this radio offers 100Khz of frequency spacing, although this expands to 1000Khz when operating in frequency-hoping modes. The vehicular R-168-100KAE also offers encrypted and clear communications, and eight preset frequencies plus 0.1Khz frequency-

hoping and, like several Yaroslavl Radioworks products, has the ability to operate in temperatures of -40 to +60ºC. Such performance increases still further with the R-168-100KBE which works comfortably in extremes of -50 to +60ºC.

Regarding VHF transceivers, Yaroslavl Radioworks markets a wide range of products. The R-168-0.1UME is a handheld radio performing both encrypted and clear communications which can be used to equip personnel from the company commander level downwards. This radio is available either with an integral headset and microphone, or in a monoblock handheld configuration. The system operates at between 44-56Mhz and has 25Khz frequency spacing enclosed in a package weighing around 1.5kg. Other handheld items include the R-168-0.1UM1E radio, which has similar characteristics to the R-168-0.1UME, but with a transfer data at a rate of between 2.4 to 16kbps in both secure and clear communications: A vehicular version of this radio is also available.

As far as other handheld VHF sets are concerned, customers can choose the R-168-0.5MKME single and multi-channel radio. This is delivered with a wearable pack, headset and microphone. It operates across the 30-80Mhz frequency range, has 1W output power and weighs just under one kilogram. Clear and encrypted communications

One of the key elements of the US Department of Defense’s Joint Tactical Radio System initiative is General Dynamics’ AN/PRC-154 Rifleman Radio which is also produced in conjunction with Thales. (US Army)

GenPort of Italy provides a range of innovative power generation systems

which use both solar and power storage technology. One of the attractions of

GenPort’s products is that they operate noiselessly and thus help preserving

stealth. (GenPort)


are facilitated with the R-168-0.5UDE VHF monoblock which weighs 0.3kgs and can transmit and receive data at 1.2-16kbps. It can equip troops from company commander, down to individual soldiers and operates across the 146-174Mhz range.

Manpack systems comprise Yaroslavl Radioworks’s VHF range, including the R-168-5UN-1E, which is outfitted with a digital display. Providing clear and encrypted communications from the battalion down to the platoon level, this radio not only equips the Russian Army, but also the troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The R-168-5UN-1E boasts a similar data rate to the systems surveyed above, and has six preset frequencies. The reach of the radio is between ten and twelve kilometres and it operates on a frequency range of 30-87.9Mhz. For fixed applications, customers can opt for the company’s R-168-5UN-1E VHF transceivers which are especially suited for operations in harsh environments. The R-168-5UN-1E has six pre-set frequencies and 25Khz frequency spacing. As a bridge across the VHF and UHF frequency ranges, Yaroslavl Radioworks Corp provides the R-612-18 VHF/UHF fixed and mobile radio which can equip air, ground and naval platforms according to the company. Weighing 40kgs, this radio can operate in temperatures of between -40 to +55ºC. Repeater and retransmission systems are also important on the battlefield which is why Yaroslavl Radioworks builds the R-168-0.5URE VHF transmitter. This set can be used to carry data as well as voice communications, moving the former at a rate of 1.2-16kbps.

Finally, Yaroslavl Radioworks produces six UHF radios. Leading the pack in this regard is the company’s R-168-0.5UDE UHF monoblock system. Operating in a frequency range of between 390-440Mhz with 25Khz frequency spacing, this radio provides clear and encrypted communications from company commanders downwards, and between ground troops, aircraft and warships. A portable version of this radio which includes a headset is available from the firm, as is a vehicular configuration; all of which offer similar levels of performance.

Users requiring a subscriber multi-channel radio can opt for the Yaroslavl Radioworks R-168MRAE. It operates across the 1.5-1.75Ghz frequency range with 1Mhz channel spacing, handling between one to eleven megabits-per-second of data over a range of six to 20 kilometres. A monoblock version is available, while the R-168MRDE multi-channel radio access station has a 1,5-1.75Ghz frequency range with similar data rates and frequency spacing as the R-168MRAE.

The data handling characteristics of Yaroslavl Radioworks products are particularly important. In recent years the Russian military has been accused of lagging behind their international counterparts in developing sophisticated data-based battle management systems. This may now be slowly changing. In 2009 it was revealed that the army was beginning tests of a new digital battle management system which may eventually equip the force. Details are scant regarding its capabilities, but it may represent an important step regarding the improvement of the Russian Army’s overall command and control capabilities.

aCCessories: eleCTriC PowerWhile this article has discussed recent events in the tactical radio world, a word should be said about tactical radio accessories. Armada profiled some of the latest tactical radio accessories in a dedicated article earlier in 2012, but since the publication of

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that article, a number of products have come to our attention which we feel are important to highlight.

It sounds like an obvious statement to say that any tactical radio is little more than metal, wires and complex circuitry without an electricity supply, but the world of radio batteries and power supplies is often overlooked. Why this is so remains a mystery. Operations in countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq have underscored the importance of adequate electricity reserves all the more so as armies become increasingly reliant on electronics. Spartan countries such as those involved in current and recent military operations may have no power infrastructure, or may have seen that infrastructure destroyed in earlier stages of hostilities. Genport, based in Vimercate in northern Italy, may have some answers in this regard. The company has developed a niche in designing lightweight advanced power generation systems that can be used for defence applications, as well as assisting medical, first responders and industrial users. At the heart of Genport’s approach is Ion Lithium and the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) technology which combined can provide over 1,000W of power – silently and in harsh environments.

For military users, the company has designed the GenPort 300 Hybrid PEM Solar portable hybrid power source.

This product can be used in two ways: the solar panels can collect sunlight and convert it into electricity to run military communications systems, for example, and any surplus energy collected during this process can be employed to charge the systems’ battery pack; alternatively, the system can be used to collect electricity during the day which can then be used later during the night. Not only does the system produce electricity, but also a range of useful bi-products, including pure hydrogen, water and ozone (the latter can be used for water purification). When generating electricity, the GenPort 300 Hybrid PEM Solar produces around 1,400W of peak power.

Another of the company’s useful product is its GenPort Portable Hydrogen Fuel Cell. This combines the quick-start characteristics of traditional batteries with the sustained power provision of fuel cells. Like the GenPort 300 Hybrid PEM Solar, the GenPort Portable Hydrogen Fuel Cell produces ozone and can also operate in extreme conditions.

Ultralife of Newark, New York produces almost every type of battery imaginable and is a one-stop shop

for customers seeking power supply solutions for their communications. The firm produces no less than 13 different military-grade rechargeable batteries, ranging from the UBBL02 battery to the URB0003 Lithium-Ion multi-kilowatt module. Military-grade non-rechargeable batteries also are on offer, including the UB0023, which has a ten-year shelf life and which can pump life into systems such as the Thales AN/PRC-119 Sincgars. The company’s UB0006 has a similar shelf life and can be used in conjunction with other military communications devices.

For deployed headquarters units with a number of communications systems to run, the UKT0042 man-portable power system can provide between 2.5 kilowatt-hour to 10 kilowatt-hour scalable energy capacity, and can be set up in under 20 minutes. The UKT0042 uses solar panels to collect sunlight, which is then converted into energy and stored in batteries. Other products available in the Ultralife portfolio include a range of amplifiers from the 20W A-320 up to the 75W Multiband Amplifier outfitted with an MBITR tactical radio charging pocket. In terms of vehicle communications, Ultralife’s range is similarly impressive, including a 75W multiband amplifier, and a 50W multiband amplifier with an MBITR charging pocket.

aCCessories: aMPliFiersMilitary amplifiers are a speciality of AR Worldwide of Washington State, with units ranging from 5-5,000W power output and covering the 0.01-6,000Mhz

When is a handheld tactical radio not a handheld tactical radio? When it becomes a vehicular radio! Ultralife’s A-320HVA adaptor allows handheld radios to be used inside a vehicle providing an ideal grab-and-run solution. (Ultralife)

Bose has pioneered noise-cancelling systems and has transposed this

technology to the military user and effectively changing the life of armoured

vehicle (especially tracked) crews. The TriPort seen here comfortably fits under

a helmet. (Bose)


frequencies. In terms of military amplifiers, the firm’s catalogue contains the 35W AR-35 covering 30-512MHz. The AR-35 is joined by the 50W AR-50 amplifier, which is JITC-certified and, like the AR-35, includes automatic band switching. As its nomenclature suggests, the AR-75 is a 75W amplifier which also has automatic switching. The company provides a host of other military

Invisio’s S10 family of headsets represents the state-of-the-art in terms of hearing

protection and communications.

These headsets are available in both

custom and universal configurations to

enhance the wearers’ comfort. (Invisio)

amplifiers like the JITC-certified 240-270Mhz low-noise satellite communications pre-amplifier.

aCCessories: heaDseTs & MikesThe other key part of any tactical radio ensemble is the headsets and microphones which enable the user to hear and transmit voice communications. Invisio were profiled earlier this year in Armada’s tactical radio accessory article. Since our last examination of this innovative audio solutions provider the company has unveiled the Invisio S10 Lightweight In-Ear Hearing Protection System. The S10 comprises a headset that fits inside the users’ ears, but with the almost magical virtue of conveying radio sound but at the same time filter out the burst cacophony of the battlefield. The headset is supplied with a lightweight control unit carrying the on/off and push-to-talk buttons. Official literature provided to Armada by Invisio notes that hearing damage is common among personnel and can be caused by sudden noises such as explosions and gunfire, not to mention exposure to continuous noise which can cause hearing loss and disorders such as tinnitus (the author experienced first-hand the damage to one’s hearing that can be caused by battlefield noise during his years of being taught by a former artillery officer who could rarely hear the class, but spoke to them with a deafening voice). Invisio’s product does not eliminate sound but instead dampens the sound to a harmless level. Like any of the human senses, sound is integral to safety on the battlefield. To cancel all sound could be as dangerous as exposing soldiers to too much of it.

The company offers its hearing protection in both universal and bespoke configurations. The former design provides a

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The KMW1031KT is the lightest, most compact20-watt booster amplifier kit for military transceivers.The entire kit weighs less than 2.5 lbs. But it’s a realheavyweight when it comes to performance, durability,and ease of use. It covers the30 – 512 MHzfrequency and isSINCGARS,HAVEQUICK, IW,HPW and DAMA capable.It supports all 5 watttactical radios such asHarris AN/PRC-152, Thales MBITR AN/PRC-148 plus others.

The KMW1031 can be powered by a single batteryor a 12 or 24 volt vehicle system. The portable, waterproofkit includes everything needed to boost radio signals:Amplifier, antenna, RF cables, battery cable and tacticalvest pouches for both the amp and antenna.

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ARMADA_Real_Heavyweight:Layout 1 7/5/12 9:11 AM Page 1


form factor that comfortably fits inside the ear using a patented technology enabling it to adapt itself to the inside of the user’s ears in a similar fashion to an earplug. Invisio’s custom fit headphones are constructed by taking an impression of the wearer’s ears. This impression is then used to construct the headphones to fit easily inside them. To this end, the S10 earphones are available in to configurations including the X6 Custom Fit headphones and the X5 Universal Fit.

Staying with headphones, anyone who is passionate about music and their stereo system will almost certainly know the name of Bose. The company’s range of high-performance and aesthetically-designed household hi-fi systems and sound docks seem a world away from the rough-and-tumble of battlefield communications. Nevertheless, this US-based company has brought the same expertise to the world of military tactical communications, incorporating noise cancelling technology into its headphones to reduce personnel fatigue and improve clarity. Bose has been supplying noise-cancelling headphones to the United States Army since 1993 primarily for use by tracked vehicle crews. Of particular interest to this article is the firm’s TriPort Tactical Headset Series 2 and its Combat Vehicle Crewman Headset. The TriPort Tactical Headset Series 2 has been designed to be worn inside platforms such as armoured

infantry fighting vehicles and armoured personnel carriers. The same headset can be used by personnel outside the vehicle during dismounted operations, thanks to the headset’s control module. An integral boom microphone can also be worn on the left or right side of the headphones. The Combat Vehicle Crewman Headset, the company claims, improves speech intelligibility by up to 95 percent compared to competing products. Like the TriPort Tactical Headset Series 2, the Combat Vehicle Crewman Headset is designed to be ergonomically friendly to ensure that it is comfortable for the wearer.

exPonenTial GrowThThese accessories plus the new tactical radios and procurement programmes surveyed above underscore the importance that tactical radios play for military operations everywhere. The use of tactical radios has grown exponentially over the last decade. Figures released by the US Army last year provided a fascinating insight into this phenomena. For example in 2000 the US Army was said to possess around 365,000 radios. This has since increased to 919,052 today. Equally, the number of different types of radios used by the US Army has almost doubled from eleven in 2000 to 20 in 2011. Furthermore in 2001 the US Army could handle around 46 megabits of data-per-second across its communications networks, whereas today this figure is around 9.6 gigabytes-per-second. Would the soldiers of the Great War recognise contemporary battlefield communications if they could see them today? Probably, but the huge range of functionality now available would no doubt astound them. This functionality is set to expand even further in the future.

Raytheon has introduced the One Force, an application that has shown its ability to transfer voice and data traffic over 3G and military tactical radio networks. (Raytheon)

I inDex To aDverTisers

AR MODULAR 27

ARMADA SUBSCRIPTION 18

BARReTT 13

CODAN 23

ELBIT SYSTeMS 05

FISCHeR CONNeCTORS 25

GDC4S C4

INVISIO 09

IDeX C3

THALeS 11

ULTRALIFe C2

Compendiumbya a arm d

Tactical Radios

2012-13

armada international: The trusted source for defence technology information since 1976

ON THE COVER: Our cover features one of the key parts of the overall Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (also known as the Sincgars), namely the ITT exelis’s RT-1523 tactical communications system which has 2320 channels and six frequency-hoping presets. (ITT exelis)

Compendium Tactical Radio 2012Supplement to armada Issue 4/2012Volume 36, Issue No. 4, August/September 2012armada internationalis published bi-monthly by Media Transasia Ltd.Copyright 2012 by Media Transasia Ltd.Publishing Office: Media Transasia Ltd,Room No. 1205-1206, Hollywood Centre 233, Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong.Tel: (852) 2815 9111, Fax: (852) 2815 1933Editor-in-Chief: eric H. Biass

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