Concept Experimentation Program. Out of Theater High Frequency Radio Relay Concept Experiment
Abstract
Army aviation has acquired new high frequency nap-of-the-earth communications (HF NOE COM) radios, the AN/VRC-100 and AN/ARC-220. Fielding of this radio is ongoing to Army's aviation utility and cargo helicopter fleet. Attack and reconnaissance helicopter installations will follow-on. During the conduct of the developmental and operational tests for this radio, combat developer (DCD) and testing community observed that radio performance suffered at night due to the difficulty of getting radio frequencies to reflect off the ionosphere in the near vertical incident sky-wave path. A different approach to HF communications, i.e. using radio relays positioned several hundreds of miles away from the transmitter, may improve the throughput of HF communications specifically at night. These stations can be located out of theater thereby allowing the erection of focused antennas and high power amplifiers that will increase the gain in a fixed site using commercial power. Such a station must be set up in a sanctuary where it is not a victim of hostile threat activity and it must have good communications back into theater with telephone, satellite, or HF radio in order to relay the messages to aircraft or ground stations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA392637