SINCGARS

Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) is a VHF combat-net radio (CNR) used by U.S. and allied military forces. In the CNR network, the SINCGARS' primary role is voice transmission between surface and airborne command and control (C2) assets. The SINCGARS family 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). The SINCGARS is designed on a modular basis to achieve maximum commonality among various ground, maritime, and airborne configurations. A common receiver/transmitter (RT) is used in the ground configurations. The modular design also reduces the burden on the logistics system to provide repair parts. The SINCGARS can operate in either the single-channel (SC) or frequency hopping (FH) mode, and stores both SC frequencies and FH loadsets. The system is compatible with all current U.S. and allied VHF-frequency modulation (FM) radios in the SC, nonsecure mode. The SINCGARS operates on any of 2320 channels between 30 and 88 megahertz (MHz) with a channel separation of 25 kilohertz (kHz). It accepts either digital or analog inputs and superimposes the signal onto a radio frequency (RF) carrier wave. In FH mode, the input changes frequency about 100 times per second over portions of the tactical VHF-FM range. These continual changes in frequency hinder threat interception and jamming units from locating or disrupting friendly communications. The SINCGARS provides data rates up to 16,000 bits per second. Enhanced data modes provide packet and RS-232 data. The enhanced data modes available with the System Improvement Program (SIP) and Advanced System Improvement Program (ASIP) radios also enable forward error correction (FEC), and increased speed, range, and accuracy of data transmissions. Most ground SINCGARS have the capability to control output power; however,...