Systems Engineering & Integration

Abstract

This budget line funds the Airborne High Frequency Radio Modernization (AHFRM) Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) program. The program is designed to replace existing legacy AN/ARC-190 High Frequency (HF) radios with a modernized HF radio, the AN/ARC-260. This replacement radio provides digital, software defined HF capability for 1,300 aircraft (most of which require multiple AN/ARC-260s) across 15 distinct Global Strike, Military Airlift (MAF) and refueling platforms within the US Air Force, US Navy, and US Coast Guard. The AN/ARC-190 is end-of-life and is currently the only HF radio capability within these 15 aircraft platforms. Starting FY24-Q4, it is anticipated the AN/ARC-190 radio will fall below supply chain thresholds. This Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Minimum Equipment Listing (MEL) requires a secure Long-Range Communication System (LRCS) on all aircraft performing transoceanic flights, and therefore, will ground any aircraft without this capability. Without the completion of the AHFRM program, any aircraft platform without a functioning LRC radio will be unable to perform any transoceanic flight until a replacement radio is procured outside of current supply chain reserves. The replacement AN/ARC-260 radio is the only Air Force airborne HF digital radio in development to address this anticipated capability gap. Impacted aircraft include AC-130J, B-1, B-52, C-5, C-17, C-130J, E-4B, E-6B, EC-130J, HC-130J, KC-130H, KC-135, KC-46, and MC-130J. The new AN/ARC-260 radio provides critical long-range HF communications when satellite communications are unavailable due to nature and/or man-made disruptions. It will incorporate new technologies such as 3G/4G Automatic Link Establishment and Low Probability of Intercept/Detection/Geolocation features, as well as accommodate the development of new technologies through software upgrades and open architecture. Finally, the AN/ARC-260 radio will be critical in providing a survivable/secure communications path for Force Direction messages. For FY25, a follow-on antenna coupler development effort is required to replace the legacy AN/ARC-190 analog coupler used as part of the new AN/ARC-260 radio. During contactor testing, the legacy AN/ARC-190 analog antenna coupler return rate was unable to match AN/ARC-260 processing power and limited output to 10 KHz versus the expected 48 KHz of wideband throughput. The legacy analog coupler can be used with the new AN/ARC-260 radio but limits the overall capabilities. Additionally, the AN/ARC-190 analog coupler is now out of production and presents significant supportability challenges starting in FY27. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such programs funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, and 0606398F. In FY23 $0.000M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY24 $0.000M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2025
• Source ID: 675046_0303133F_7_3600_PB_2025

Tags

Readers

• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.
• Radio communications and signal processing.
• Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

• Space