Search and rescue gets software defined radios
RAF pilots flying Sea King HAR 3 helicopters are to get new radios which will maintain the RAF's airborne Search and Rescue capability until the aircraft goes out of service. The MoD has procured more 40 R&S M3AR series radios from Rohde & Schwarz to equip the Sea King HAR 3 fleet and the training Flight Simulator. The radios will replace the ARC-115 VHF and ARC-116 UHF Air Traffic Control radios, which have been installed since the aircraft was built.
|Based on software defined radio technology, the M3AR is a multiband transceiver covering frequencies from 30 to 400MHz. Channel spacing can be set up for either 8.33 or 25kHz.
Tony Arnold, the Sea King Project Team Project Officer commented: "In addition to providing reliable Air Traffic Control communications, the new radios will provide aircrew with new voice communications capabilities in the VHF Land and Maritime Frequency Bands."
Keith Randall, Rohde & Schwarz UK's sales manager for radio communications, added: "M3AR airborne transceivers are the product of decades of experience in the design and development of airborne radio equipment. They were an ideal choice for the Sea King MK 3s, due to their low cost of ownership and drop in compatibility with the ARC-115/116s. This made them straightforward and cost effective to integrate."
