Airborne Tactical Radios (ATR)

Business Electronic Systems (Inc.)
Battle-proven, multi-band, multi-mission tactical communications systems with secure, anti-jam capabilities.
U.S. Navy helicopters on a mission, using BAE Systems’ multi-band, multi-mission, anti-jam Airborne Tactical Radio systems for secure communications.

Airborne Tactical radio products are leaders in the military tactical and SATCOM communication domains, with more than 100,000 radios deployed globally. Our communications products span airborne, maritime, and ground communications applications in the high frequency (HF) to ultra-high frequency (UHF) spectrums and beyond. From discrete component designs to modern software communication architecture, ATR products are software-defined. These battle-proven systems offer twice the standard mean time between failures, multi-band, secure anti-jam voice, data imagery transmission, and network-capable communications in a compact radio set. Based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, our experienced staff is responsible for all aspects of design, development, and execution. Our mission is to provide modernized HF/VHF/UHF communication products and services in support of critical tactical missions.

Downloads
Four hardware components of BAE Systems’ Fire Series software-defined radio (SDR) systems, which make aircraft communications more capable and updatable for evolving operations.

Fire Series™

Our latest software defined radios provide resilient, robust, communications for critical missions.

BAE Systems engineered the Fire Series™ family product line for military forces operating in the most demanding and complex environments. With a history of U.S. domestic and international service, our airborne radios have evolved to a Software Communications Architecture (SCA)/Software-Defined radio (SDR) design, providing design reserve capacity for software-only deployment of future operational, mission, and end user focused capabilities.

Fire Series products:

  • AN/ARC-231A SDR Radio Communications System
  • AN/ARC-231 Radio Communications System
  • AN/PSC-5D Radio Communications System
     

Features and benefits

  • Programmability reduces the time to field, evolving communication needs, special mission modifications, and performance enhancements.
  • Supports current and evolving joint service interoperable voice and data standards for Line of Sight (LOS) and beyond LOS communications in Very High Frequency (VHF)/Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) spectrum.
  • Embedded NSA certified Type 1 modern cryptographic solution.
  • Provides communication capabilities of its predecessor with the same set of electronic counter-counter measures such as SATURN, HAVE QUICK, and SINCGARS.
  • UHF SATCOM modes (DAMA and IW), coupled with the foundational building blocks supporting mobile user objective system.
  • Multiple control interface options — such as independent red and black MIL-STD-1553, Ethernet, and USB — allows for flexible integration and mission deployment options.
  • Provides ED-23C (8.33 kHz) internationally compliant air traffic control communications and full range of mandatory U.S. and NATO capabilities.
     

Our new SDRs continue to provide warfighters with secure, resilient, and reliable connectivity when they need it most. Download our data sheets to learn more. 

Our latest software defined radios provide resilient, robust, communications for critical missions.

Starfire™ Radios

Modern airborne radios based on software-defined, multiband design, with extensive reserve capacity for the future.

BAE Systems’ next-generation Starfire™ product line radios provide secure anti-jam, voice, and data communications in a compact radio set. Based on a common processor architecture, the Starfire™ family of software-defined radio (SDR) communications systems enable software-only upgrades. These modern radios are the same form factor and provide extensive reserve capacity to support a cost-effective path to future enhancements for fixed- and rotary-wing platforms.

Starfire products:

  • AN/ARC-164A, MXF-4059 Radio

  • AN/ARC-232A, MXF-4058 Radio
  • AN/ARC-231, MXF-4000 Series Radio
  • AN/ARC-222, MXF-626N Radio
     

Features

  • Baseline configured for heritage frequency bands, AM/FM, voice and data with air traffic control, maritime and hailing modes, as well as 8.33 kHz, 5 kHz and 25 kHz channel spacing with frequency range extendable to 2 GHz.
  • Supports heritage and new ancillary devices such as controls, mounts, antennas, external cryptographic units (KY-58/M, KY/SY-100/M, others), and embedded, commercial, software based encryption options.
  • Ethernet control and maintenance interface compatibility with USB, MIL-STD-1553, RS-422/232.
     

Benefits

  • Qualified to military standards for domestic and international interoperability for NATO and coalition military airborne applications.

  • Designed with reserve capacity for future enhancements such as civil communications, APCO 25, and TETRA.
  • Supports retransmission in repeater and cross-banding modes of main and independent guard receivers improving interoperability.
  • Software programmability permits a broad range of configurations with or without electronic counter-counter measures (ECCM) such as SATURN, HAVE QUICK, SINCGARS, or a national ECCM.
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To learn more about our products, please reach out to us directly using the contact information listed below.

ARC-231, ARC-232, ARC-164, MXF-626, PSC-5, USC-62 JTT, and all A variants
1 877 227 2231
Radiosupport.ES@BAESystems.us

ARC-234
1 877 787 8234
Supt234.es@BAESystems.us
 

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Michael Navarro

Business Development

Electronic Systems

BAE Systems, Inc.

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Airborne Tactical Radios

For ATR Support

Electronic Systems

BAE Systems, Inc.