ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Maryland – US Army aviation experts needed the air radio stations for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. They found their solution from the electronic systems segment of BAE Systems in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Army Contracting officials at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., announced a nearly half-billion-dollar, 10-year contract with BAE Systems in early April for AN/ARC-231A multi-mode hardware components for aviation radios, repair services, as well as technical, engineering and logistical support.
The value of the April 9, 2024 contract with BAE Systems is $459.8 million over the next decade.
BAE Systems AN/ARC-231A avionics radio is part of the company’s Fire series of aviation radios, which are Software Communications Architecture (SCA) and Software Defined Radio (SDR).
The ability to program these aviation radios can reduce the time needed to meet evolving communications needs, special mission modifications and performance improvements, BAE Systems officials say.
These software defined radios maintain a joint service of interoperable voice and data standards for line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight VHF and UHF radio communications.
The AN/ARC-231A offers built-in NSA-certified Type 1 cryptography for voice and data security, and also provides the communications capabilities of its predecessor with electronic countermeasures such as SATURN, HAVE QUICK and SINCGARS.
The radios offer DAMA and IW UHF satellite communications (SATCOM) modes and control interface options such as independent red and black MIL-STD-1553, Ethernet and USB for flexible integration and mission deployment.
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Avionics radios provide internationally compatible communications for ED-23C (8.33 kHz) air traffic control and US and NATO mandated capabilities.
Future upgrades could eventually bring the BAE Systems AN/ARC-231A to the capabilities of the company’s Starfire radios, which provide secure anti-jamming communications, voice and data in a compact radio package that handles legacy frequency bands, AM/FM. voice and data with air traffic control, marine and greeting modes, and channel spacing of 8.33 kHz, 5 kHz and 25 kHz with a frequency range extendable to 2 GHz.
Under this contract, BAE Systems will carry out the work at locations to be determined with each order and is due to be completed by April 2034. For more information, contact BAE Systems Electronic Systems online at https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/our-company/inc-businesses/electronic-systemsor Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground at https://acc.army.mil/contractingcenters/acc-apg/.
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