Product Brochure | Version 05.01 R&S®M3AR Software Defined Radios VHF/UHF transceiver family for airborne communications

© Eurofighter – Markus Zinner Note: Frequencies are rounded to full MHz for better reading. For detailed frequencies, see the respective data sheet. Some of the pictures show opti

R&S®M3AR Software Defined Radios At a glance Rohde & Schwarz satisfies the most demanding r equirements of a multitude of airborne platforms. The R&S®M3AR transceivers are in operation around the world and feature high reliability even under extreme e nvironmental conditions. The outstanding MTBF values e nsure low maintenance effort and high availability. A variety of optional EPM (ECCM) methods are available. For instance, the R&S®SECOS frequency hopping method with integrated encryption can be installed in parallel with HAVE QUICK I/II. The software defined, multiband-capable airborne transceivers...

R&S®M3AR Software Defined Radios Benefits and key features Outstanding radio characteristics ❙❙ Excellent RF parameters ❙❙ Frequency bands from 30 MHz to 400 MHz ❙❙ Outstanding RF characteristics on a single platform with the R&S®MR6000A Secure ommunications c ❙❙ EPM (ECCM) methods for anti-jam communications ❙❙ Tap- and spoof-proof communications through integrated encryption ❙❙ Wideband interface for external encryption devices (e.g. ELCRODAT 4-2, KY58, KY100) Flexible range of pplications a ❙❙ High power for secure communications even during very low level flights and higher altitude instrument...

Outstanding r adio characteristics Excellent RF parameters Despite its compact design, the R&S®M3AR radio amily f offers excellent RF characteristics, even under harsh e nvironmental conditions. The R&S®M3AR transceivers are compatible with common military and civil communications standards. The receiver features excellent sensitivity, high crossmodulation immunity, selectivity and suppression of strong i nterference signals. The transmitter is optimized for low spurious emissions and the suppression of wideband noise. Frequency bands from 30 MHz to 400 MHz The aviation sector has special applications...

Outstanding RF characteristics on a single platform with the R&S®MR6000A If several transceivers are used simultaneously in an aircraft (co-site operation), there is a risk of mutual interference. For example, this is true especially on large airborne platforms used for air surveillance. More than 20 radio systems can be installed on such a platform. Jets or helicopters featuring a relatively small fuselage also need to be equipped with a large number of antennas. Antennas are not only required for VHF/UHF and HF radios, but also for air navigation and sensors. Transceiver emissions, for example,...

In practice, however, high sensitivity is available without limitations only if the radio exhibits both appropriate large-signal suppression capability and selectivity. In addition to the above-mentioned integrated filters that protect against HF and VHF FM signals, the R&S®MR6000A also has built-in frequency-agile co-site filters that are capable of effectively suppressing interfering signals in the same frequency band Crossmodulation immunity against strong AM interfering signals Crossmodulation occurs whenever a strong interfering signal with amplitude modulation (AM) overdrives the receiver’s...

Secure communications Tap- and spoof-proof communications through i ntegrated encryption To protect radio links from tapping and spoofing, the information being transmitted can be encrypted. With the R&S®MR6000A from the R&S®M3AR family, Rohde & Schwarz was the first manufacturer to offer embedded NATO encryption. This eliminates the need for an additional external encryption device. The R&S®MR6000A therefore saves space, reduces weight and is easy to nstall in the aircraft. The i R&S®MR6000A is interoperable with external rypto devices c such as the KY57, KY58, KY99, KY100 and LCRODAT 4-2. E...

Flexible range of applications High power for secure communications even during very low level flights and higher altitude instrument flying Especially with helicopters, high transmit power is important because of the need for effective communications between two-aircraft formations and flights during tactical flying missions near the ground. When flying under instrument flight rules, long distances occur between the aircraft and the air traffic control stations. In this case, the receiver must be able to detect and process even weak radio signals and output them with good audio quality. Although...

Suitable for fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft operated by the air force, army and navy Military aircraft place a variety of demands on the radio with respect to environmental impacts such as g-force, vibration and temperature range. Furthermore, army, air force and navy airborne platforms must sometimes support special applications in the various frequency ranges. The R&S®M3AR offers a wide bandwidth to support a variety of applications. For the navy for example, a Link 11 interface in line with STANAG 5511 was integrated in the R&S®MR6000A, as well as sonobuoy functionality and a guard receiver...

Safety aspects in line with civil specifications (R&S®MR6000A) Approval by civil aviation safety authorities requires the use of development processes in line with the civil avionics standards for software (RTCA/DO-178B, level C) and for hardware (RTCA/DO-254, design assurance level C). This is a great challenge, especially for airborne transceivers where waveforms and a large number of functions are mapped by software. As part of these processes, the specific requirements to be met by the software and hardware components are derived, starting from the equipment level, and then validated and...

Low maintenance effort Powerful built-in tests (BIT) for error detection and diagnostics The three types of built-in tests (PBIT, CBIT and IBIT) aid the user in checking the functionality of the device and determining if, and where appropriate, what type of errors exist. BIT results can be viewed on the display or polled via the MIL-STD-1553B data bus. The power-on BIT (PBIT) is a short self-test that is executed each time the device is powered on. The continuous BIT (CBIT) checks the functionality and performance of the radio during operation. This test continuously polls the status messages...