Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) is a VHF combat-net radio (CNR) used by U.S. and allied military forces. In the CNR network, the SINCGARS' primary role is voice transmission between surface and airborne command and control (C2) assets.
The SINCGARS family replaced the Vietnam War-era synthesized single frequency radios (AN/PRC-77 and AN/VRC-12), although it can work with them. The airborne AN/ARC-201 radio is phasing out the older tactical air-to-ground radios (AN/ARC-114 and AN/ARC-131).
The SINCGARS is designed on a modular basis to achieve maximum commonality among various ground, maritime, and airborne configurations. A common receiver/transmitter (RT) is used in the ground configurations. The modular design also reduces the burden on the logistics system to provide repair parts.
The SINCGARS can operate in either the single-channel (SC) or frequency hopping (FH) mode, and stores both SC frequencies and FH loadsets. The system is compatible with all current U.S. and allied VHF-frequency modulation (FM) radios in the SC, nonsecure mode. The SINCGARS operates on any of 2320 channels between 30 and 88 megahertz (MHz) with a channel separation of 25 kilohertz (kHz). It accepts either digital or analog inputs and superimposes the signal onto a radio frequency (RF) carrier wave. In FH mode, the input changes frequency about 100 times per second over portions of the tactical VHF-FM range. These continual changes in frequency hinder threat interception and jamming units from locating or disrupting friendly communications. The SINCGARS provides data rates up to 16,000 bits per second. Enhanced data modes provide packet and RS-232 data. The enhanced data modes available with the System Improvement Program (SIP) and Advanced System Improvement Program (ASIP) radios also enable forward error correction (FEC), and increased speed, range, and accuracy of data transmissions.
Most ground SINCGARS have the capability to control output power; however, most airborne SINCGARS are fixed power. Those RTs with power settings can vary transmission range from approximately 200 meters (660 feet) to 10 kilometers (km) (6.2 miles). Adding a power amplifier increases the line of sight (LOS) range to approximately 40 km (25 miles). (These ranges are for planning purposes only; terrain, weather, and antenna height can affect transmission range.) The variable output power level allows users to operate on the minimum power necessary to maintain reliable communications, thus lessening the electromagnetic signature given off by their radio sets. This capability is of particular importance at major command posts, which operate in multiple networks. SC CNR users outside the FH network can use a hailing method to request access to the network. When hailing a network, a user outside the network contacts the network control station (NCS) on the cue frequency. In the active FH mode, the SINCGARS gives audible and visual signals to the operator that an external subscriber wants to communicate with the FH network. The SINCGARS operator must change to the cue frequency to communicate with the outside radio system. The network can be set to a manual frequency for initial network activation. The manual frequency provides a common frequency for all members of the network to verify that the equipment is operational. During initial net activation, all operators in the net tune to the manual frequency. After communications are established, the net switches to the FH mode and the NCS transfers the hopping variables to the outstations.
More than 570,000 radios have been purchased. There have been several system improvement programs, including the Integrated Communications Security (ICOM) models, which have provided integrated voice and data encryption, the Special Improvement Program (SIP) models, which add additional data modes, and the advanced SIP (ASIP) models, which are less than half the size and weight of ICOM and SIP models and provided enhanced FEC (forward error correction) data modes, RS-232 asynchronous data, packet data formats, and direct interfacing to Precision Lightweight GPS Receiver (PLGR) devices providing radio level situational awareness capability.
In 1992, the U.S. Air Force awarded a contract to replace the AN/ARC-188 for communications between Air Force aircraft and Army units.
In March 2022, the U.S. Army awarded a hybrid contract valued at up to $6.1 billion for the modernization of Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) radios to meet National Security Agency cryptographic requirements. The indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract, structured on a cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price basis, was awarded to Thales Defense and Security Inc. (Clarksburg, Maryland) and L3Harris Technologies Inc. (Rochester, New York), who will compete for task orders. The contracting activity is managed by the U.S. Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, with work locations and funding determined per order. The estimated completion date is March 24, 2032. https://www.war.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/2979066/
Timeline
November 1983: ITT Corporation (ITT) wins the contract for the first type of radio, for ground troops. May 1985: ITT wins the contract for the airborne SINCGARS. May-June 1988: 4th Bn, 31st Infantry begins initial field tests of the SINCGARS radio at Fort Sill July 1988: General Dynamics wins a second-source contract for the ground radio. February–April 1989: 2nd Infantry Division field tests SINCGARS in improvised man-pack configuration in the Korean DMZ. April 1989: ITT reaches "Milestone IIIB": full-rate production. December 1990: 1st Division is equipped. December 1991: General Dynamics wins the "Option 1 Award" for the ground radio. March 1992: ITT wins a "Ground and Airborne" award. July 1992: Magnavox Electronics Systems Company develops the airborne SINCGARS AN/ARC-222 for the Air Force August 1993: General Dynamics achieves full rate production. April 1994: ITT and General Dynamics compete for the ground radio. May 1994: ITT wins a sole-source contract for the airborne radio. 1997: ITT became the sole source supplier of the new half-size RT-1523E radio to the US Army. 2006: The RT-1523F/SideHat configuration provides a 2-channel capability. July 2009: ITT wins RT-1523G platform development, $363 million contract. Partnered with Thales Communications Inc. 2012: Capability Set 14 to provide Universal Network Situational Awareness to help prevent air-to-ground friendly fire incidents.Thompson, Edric. "Radio-based combat ID -- for free." RDECOM, 2012-10-10. Retrieved 2015-10-12 – Via globalsecurity.org May 2016: Harris Corp. is awarded a $405 million contract by Moroccan Army concerning SINCGARS system equipment including ancillary items, spare parts, installation kits, training and fielding support services. One bid was solicited with one received, with an estimated completion date of April 21, 2021.Release No: CR-086-16 Contracts: Press Operations U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, 2012-05-06. Retrieved 2015-05-10 – Via Defense.gov June 2016: Harris Corporation awarded $15 million order to supply tactical radios to Middle East nation. Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) has received a $15 million order to provide tactical radios, management systems, training and field support services to a nation in the Middle East as part of an ongoing modernization program. The contract was awarded during the fourth quarter of Harris' 2016 fiscal year. Harris.com, 2016-06-12. Retrieved 2017-12-14 – http://www.defenseworld.net January 2017: Harris Corp. is awarded maximum $403 million contract From US Defense Logistics Agency for spare parts supporting various tactical radio systems, which includes SINCGARS. This is a five-year contract with no option periods and 5 January 2022 is performance completion date. Using customers are Army and Defense Logistics Agency, the US Department of Defense. Types of appropriation are fiscal 2017 through fiscal 2022 Army working capital; and defense working capital funds, funded in the year of delivery order issuance. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland (SPRBL1-17-D-0002). Defenseworld.net, 2017-01-07. Retrieved 2017-06-16 – http://www.defenseworld.net March 2022: The U.S. Army awarded a hybrid contract (up to $6.1 billion) to Thales Defense and Security Inc. (Clarksburg, MD) and L3Harris Technologies Inc. (Rochester, New York) for the modernization of SINCGARS radios to meet NSA cryptographic modernization requirements. The indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) will run through March 24, 2032, with orders competed between the two vendors. Contracting activity: U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. www.war.gov, 2022-03-25. Retrieved 2025-09-28 – www.war.gov https://www.war.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/2979066/
Models