U.S. Military survival radios
Military organizations still issue pilots and other combat personnel individual survival radios, which have become increasingly sophisticated, with built-in Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receivers, and satellite communication. In slang terms "PRC" radios were called a "Prick" followed by the model number, e.g. "Prick-25," and "URC" radios were called an "Erk."[according to whom?] United States military survival radios include:
- AN/CRC-7 - World War II era set, 140.58 megahertz (2.1325 m)[8]
- AN/PRC-17
- AN/PRC-32 - Navy rescue sets, 243 megahertz (1.23 m).[8]
- AN/PRC-49
- AN/PRC-63 - Smallest set built.[8]
- AN/PRC-90 - Vietnam War era airman rescue set. AN/PRC-90-1 and AN/PRC-90-2 are improved, repairable versions. Operates on 243 and 282.8 MHz AM. The PRC-90 also included a beacon mode, and a tone generator to allow the sending of Morse Code.[8][9]
- AN/PRC-103 - (Air Force) Rescue Swimmer Radio.[8][10]
- AN/PRC-112 - Offers Synthesized radio in the VHF and UHF aircraft bands. A PRC-112 and a hand held GPS were used by Capt. Scott O'Grady when he was rescued after being shot down over Bosnia.[11] The AN/PRC-112B, initially known as the Hook-112, is a PRC-112 modified to include a GPS receiver, allowing encrypted position information to be sent. Also has Cospas-Sarsat beacon. The latest model AN/PRC-112G, built by General Dynamics can communicate with satellites as well.[12] Over 31,000 radios in the PRC-112 family have been produced.[13]
- AN/PRC-125 (Navy) Rescue Swimmer Radio.[8][10]
- AN/PRC-149 Rescue Radio, replaced the PRC-90, PRC-112 and PRC-125 for non-combat use.[14] Includes GPS and Cospas-Sarsat beacon.[15] Operates on 121.5 megahertz (2.47 m), 243.0 megahertz (1.234 m), 282.8 megahertz (1.060 m) and 406.025 megahertz (0.738360 m). Built by Tadiran, the PRC-149 uses standard D cell batteries, unlike other units that took special batteries.
- AN/PRQ-7 Combat Survivor/Evader Locator (CSEL) combines selective availability GPS, UHF line of sight and UHF satellite communications along with a SARSAT beacon. It can send predefined messages digitally along with the user's location.[16][17] As of 2008, the PRQ-7 cost $7000 each. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack cost $1600, while a non-rechargeable lithium-manganese dioxide unit cost $1520.[18] As of Oct, 2011 Boeing has delivered 50,000 PRQ-7s.[19]
- AN/URC-4 - Operates at 121.5 megahertz (2.47 m) and 243 megahertz (1.23 m)[8]
- AN/URC-11 - Operating at 243 megahertz (1.23 m), "A" versions replaced one audio tube with transistors.[8]
- AN/URC-10 - Subminiaturized, completely transistorized UHF radio sets consisting of a crystal-controlled receiver-transmitter, a 16-volt dry battery, and a power cable assembly. The unit operates on one channel in the 240–260 megahertz (1.2–1.2 m) band, usually at 243 megahertz (1.23 m).[8]
- AN/URC-14 - Operates at 121.5 megahertz (2.47 m)
- AN/URC-64 - (Air Force), 4 frequency rescue sets. Four crystal controlled channels between 225–285 megahertz (1.33–1.05 m)[8]
- AN/URC-68 - (Army), 4 frequency rescue sets.[8]
