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SINCGARS

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SINCGARS

Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) is a Combat Net Radio (CNR) currently used by U.S. and allied military forces. The radios, which handle voice and data communications, are designed to be reliable, secure, and easily maintained. Vehicle-mount, backpack, airborne, and handheld form factors are available.

Contents

SINCGARS uses 25 kHz channels in the very high frequency (VHF) FM band, from 30.000 to 87.975 megahertz (MHz). It has single-frequency and frequency hopping modes. The frequency-hopping mode hops 111 times a second.

The SINCGARS family has mostly replaced the Vietnam-war-era synthesized single frequency radios (AN/PRC-77 and AN/VRC-12), although it can work with them. The airborne AN/ARC-201 radio is phasing out the older tactical air-to-ground radios (AN/ARC-114 and AN/ARC-131).

Over 570,000 radios have been purchased. There have been several system improvement programs, including the Integrated Communications Security (ICOM) models, which have provided integrated voice and data encryption, the Special Improvement Program (SIP) models, which add additional data modes, and the advanced SIP (ASIP) models, which are less than half the size and weight of ICOM and SIP models and provided enhanced FEC (forward error correction) data modes, RS-232 asynchronous data, Packet Data formats, and direct interfacing to Precision Lightweight GPS Receiver (PLGR) devices providing radio level situational awareness capability.

In 1992, the U.S. Air Force awarded a contract to replace the AN/ARC-188 for communications between Air Force aircraft and Army units.

Timeline

  • November 1983: ITT Corporation (ITT) wins the contract for the first type of radio, for ground troops.
  • May 1985: ITT wins the contract for the airborne SINCGARS.
  • July 1988: General Dynamics wins a second-source contract for the ground radio.
  • April 1989: ITT reaches "Milestone IIIB": full-rate production.
  • December 1990: 1st Division is equipped.
  • December 1991: General Dynamics wins the "Option 1 Award" for the ground radio.
  • March 1992: ITT wins a "Ground and Airborne" award.
  • July 1992: Magnavox Electronics Systems Company develops the airborne SINCGARS AN/ARC-222 for the Air Force
  • August 1993: General Dynamics achieves full rate production.
  • April 1994: ITT and General Dynamics compete for the ground radio.
  • May 1994: ITT wins a sole-source contract for the airborne radio.
  • 1997: ITT became the sole source supplier of the new half-size RT-1523E radio to the US Army.
  • 2006: The RT-1523F/SideHat configuration provides a 2-channel capability.
  • July 2009: ITT wins RT-1523G platform development, $363 Million Dollar Contract. Partnered with Thales Communications Inc.
  • 2012: Capability Set 14 to provide Universal Network Situational Awareness to help prevent air-to-ground friendly fire incidents.
  • May 2016: Harris Corp. is awarded a $405 Million Dollar contract by Moroccan Army concerning SINGARS system equipement including ancillary items, spare parts, installation kits, training and fielding support services. One bid was solicited with one received, with an estimated completion date of April 21, 2021.

    • Ancillary items

  • SideHat - The 'SideHat' is a simple radio solution that attaches to existing SINCGARS radio installations, offering rapid, affordable and interoperable wideband network communications for Early Infantry Brigade Combat Team (E-IBCT) deployments and other Soldier radio waveform (SRW) applications.
  • SINCGARS Airborne - The AN/ARC-201 System Improvement Program (SIP) airborne radio is a reliable, field-proven voice and data battlespace communications system with networking capabilities.
  • Embedded GPS Receiver - The Selective Availability Antispoofing Module (SAASM) technology Embedded GPS Receiver (EGR) installed in the RT-1523(E)-(F) providing a navigation/communication system in support of critical Warfighter capabilities that includes Situational Awareness, Combat ID, Navigation and Timing and Surveying Capabilities.
  • GPS FanOut System - Provides six GPS formats from a single GPS source (RT-1523 with integrated SAASM GPS or PLGR/DAGR (Defense Advanced GPS Receiver–AN/PSN-13)).
  • VRCU (Vehicle Remote Control Unit) - Designed to be placed anywhere on a vehicle, VRCU is important in large vehicles and those with tight quarters. VRCU allows full control of both single and dual RT-1523 (models E, F, and G) and RT-1702 (models E and F) radios from any location within a vehicle.
  • Single ASIP Radio Mount (SARM) is the latest vehicle installation mount developed specifically for RT-1523 or RT-1702 radios. SARM solves space and weight claim issues associated with traditional vehicle installation mounts. SARM operates on 12 or 24 volt allowing installation into any military or civilian vehicle.

    • References

    SINCGARS Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA