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The US Army has awarded BAE Systems a US$460 million (AU$698.47 million) contract to deliver the AN/ARC-231/A Multi-mode Aviation Radio Set capability for the US Army helicopter fleet.
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This five-year, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract includes hardware components, repair services, engineering and logistic support, and development for rotary-wing aircraft.
The Multi-mode Aviation Radio Set (MARS) system is designed to perform in the most demanding environments to provide warfighters with secure mission-critical information when they need it most.
Amber Dolan, director of adaptive communications and sensing at BAE Systems, said, “We provide communication solutions with scalable software deployment in support of tactical missions where speed and relevance of information matter most.”
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.
“This airborne radio design enables the US Army to upgrade their rotary-wing fleet with the latest secure waveform that can be tailored for each mission for years to come,” Dolan said.
The AN/ARC-231/A MARS system is comprised of the RT-1987 radio with associated ancillaries, including amplifiers and mounting bases. It is the newest generation of multiband, multi-mission, airborne communications system with Type 1 crypto modernisation capability.
The system is focused on configurability and allows for flexible integration and mission deployment options that ensure interoperability for joint force operations.
BAE’s MARS system is available through foreign military sales, it provides internationally compliant air traffic control communications and full range of mandatory US and NATO capabilities.
With more than 100,000 radios deployed globally, BAE Systems’ battle-proven communications products offer nearly double the reliability of legacy products.
The company’s compact radio sets also offer multiband, secure anti-jam voice, data imagery transmission, and network-capable communications.
The radios will be developed and produced at BAE Systems’ facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with engineering support in Largo, Florida.
