Military

PRC-112 Personal Survival Radio

The AN/PRC-112 survival radio provides Army Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel with the capability to perform combat search and rescue (CSAR) missions of downed aircrew personnel. The Survival Radio is critical to minimizing the exposure of not only downed aircrew personnel but also the personnel and equipment of forces conducting the CSAR.

The AN/PRC-112 radio is a multi-mission transceiver used in conjunction with the AN/ARS-6 Personnel Locator Radio Set, and the KY-913 Program Loader to make up the Army Personnel Location System (PLS). The AN/PRC-112 acts as a transponder, supplying ranging and personnel identification to the AN/ARS-6 system. Additionally, it performs beacon and air-to-ground voice functions. A user's location can be accurately determined when used in combination with an interrogator equipped aircraft for rescue/extraction.

The AN/PRC-112 survival radio provides Army Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel with the capability to perform combat search and rescue (CSAR) missions of downed aircrew personnel. The Survival Radio is critical to minimizing the exposure of not only downed aircrew personnel but also the personnel and equipment of US forces conducting the CSAR.

The AN/PRC-112 radio is a multi-mission transceiver used in conjunction with the AN/ARS-6 Personnel Locator Radio Set, and the KY-913 Program Loader to make up the Army Personnel Location System (PLS). The AN/PRC-112 acts as a transponder, supplying ranging and personnel identification to the AN/ARS-6 system. Additionally, it performs beacon and air-to-ground voice functions. A user's location can be accurately determined when used in combination with an interrogator equipped aircraft for rescue/extraction.

The AN/PRC-112 currently contains 11 internal modules, of which three critical modules can no longer be manufactured. Due to the obsolescence of these critical modules CECOM has obtained funding to enable a redesign effort to upgrade the radio to state of the art technology. As part of this effort, the radio will incorporate acceptance capability for any power source (including rechargeable/commercial batteries), reduce power consumption, and incorporate indicators for low power and operational status. There are also options built into the contract, to include a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) tagger capability, a Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) capability and over the horizon capability.

On December 23, 2000, a contract was awarded to Engineering and Professional Services (EPS) for the purpose of upgrading the AN/PRC-112 Survival Radio, designing out the obsolete modules and replacing them with state-of-the-art circuitry. EPS has formed a consortium with Tadrian/Spectralink, Kaiser Electronics and Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) to provide the AN/PRC-112 upgrade for the U.S. Government. The consortium breaks down this way: EPS as the prime contractor, is responsible for the Program Management and Integrated Logistics Support of this contract; Tadiran/Spectralink is responsible for the technical oversight of the upgrade program and will be repackaging the current Survival Radio circuitry of its PRC-434 into the AN/PRC-112 radio. Kaiser Electronics will be the producer of the new circuit card upgrade kits and any future end item AN/PRC-112D production; and Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) will be responsible for the incorporation of these kits into existing inventory AN/PRC-112 radios. TYAD will remove the old electronics from the radio and incorporate the new circuit cards.

The AN/PRC-112D Survival Radio provides the most cost effective way of dealing with growing obsolescence, while adopting the most reliable and advanced solution available and reducing total cost of ownership. This state-of-the-art upgrade with programmable software results in reduced logistics costs, increased product reliability, and increases mission readiness. Operation modes: