Thanks to the collaboration between Rohde & Schwarz and Lockheed Martin, the Slovak Air Force has become the next customer to receive F-16 aircraft equipped with Rohde & Schwarz secure communications. The Slovak Air Force will receive 14 F-16 Block 70 Viper aircraft in the mid-2020s. To increase local support and service capabilities for the air force, Slovakia will also procure an R&S URTS universal radio test set. Rohde & Schwarz will provide the AN/ARC-238 software defined radio (SDR), the U.S. government designation for the independent company’s R&S MR6000R/L radios.
According to Stefan Pleyer, Vice President Market Segment Avionics, Rohde & Schwarz, “our software defined airborne radios are a game changer for any air force that flies the F-16. We are proud that our proven commitment to quality and accountability has been recognized by Lockheed Martin.”
The AN/ARC-238 system consists of two transceivers: a remote controlled transceiver installed in the avionic bay and a transceiver in the cockpit accessible by a local control panel. Both cover the frequency range from 30 MHz to 400 MHz and support the NATO frequency hopping algorithms (TRANSEC) HAVE QUICK II and SATURN. Rohde & Schwarz is the preferred supplier of airborne radiocommunications for new production F-16 Block 70 aircraft. The Viper is the latest and most advanced F-16 production configuration.
The Rohde & Schwarz technology group is among the trailblazers when it comes to paving the way for a safer and connected world with its leading solutions in test & measurement, technology systems, and networks & cybersecurity. Founded more than 85 years ago, the group is a reliable partner for industry and government customers around the globe. On June 30, 2020, Rohde & Schwarz had around 12,300 employees worldwide. The independent group achieved a net revenue of EUR 2.58 billion in the 2019/2020 fiscal year (July to June). The company is headquartered in Munich, Germany.
