An advanced, secure, and fast-operating communication system is set to be integrated into U.S. Army’s fighter helicopters. BAE Systems’ AN/ARC-231A Multi-mode Aviation Radio Set (MARS) completed initial installation and is operationally ready for use in select rotary-wing aircraft. The system is the newest generation of multi-band, multi-mission, airborne communications systems with Type 1 crypto modernization.
Designed to enable U.S. Army secure waveform upgrades across its rotary-wing fleet or tailored to specific mission needs, MARS’ programmability supports evolving communication needs, special mission modifications, and performance enhancements.
The software communications architecture and software-defined radio design enables the deployment of new capabilities as software-only upgrades.
Significant milestone
“The fielding of the AN/ARC-231A MARS system marks a significant milestone to equip warfighters with advanced communications capabilities and an increase in mission readiness to respond more effectively to emerging threats,” said Brian Shadiack, director of Adaptive Communications and Sensing at BAE Systems.
“This next-generation, software-defined radio has undergone rigorous testing to ensure it meets the highest standards of performance. Its design reflects a deep understanding of warfighters’ evolving needs in a rapidly changing operational environment.”
The company revealed that AN/ARC-231A MARS system is comprised of the RT-1987 radio with associated ancillaries, including amplifiers and mounting bases.
MARS focuses on configurability
It serves as a drop-in replacement for the original ARC-231 radio currently fielded across U.S. armed forces and allies. MARS focuses on configurability and allows for flexible integration and mission deployment options that ensure interoperability for joint force operations. Available through foreign military sales, it provides international compliant air traffic control communications and a full range of mandatory U.S. and NATO capabilities, according to BAE Systems.
With more than 100,000 radios deployed globally, BAE Systems’ battle-proven communications products offer significantly increased capability of legacy products. The company’s compact radio sets also offer multi-band, secure anti-jam voice, data imagery transmission, and network-capable communications. The MARS system is manufactured at BAE Systems’ facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana with engineering support in Largo, Florida, according to a press release.
Last year, U.S. Army awarded BAE Systems a five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract with a ceiling value of $460 million for the AN/ARC-231/A Multi-mode Aviation Radio Set (MARS). This award consisted of hardware components, repair services, engineering and logistic support, and development for rotary-wing aircraft. The MARS system is designed to perform in the most demanding environments to provide warfighters with secure mission-critical information when they need it most.
The company revealed that in today’s complex and contested battlefields, operators rely on fast and accurate communications to inform key decisions in the field. MARS’ programmability reduces the time to field evolving communication needs, special mission modifications, and performance enhancements. The software communications architecture and software-defined radio design enable fielding new capabilities as software-only upgrades.