Rohde & Schwarz to fit Slovak Viper communications

Rohde & Schwarz will provide the AN/ARC-238 software defined radio, the US government’s designation for the company's MR6000R/L radios, for Slovak Air Force F-16 Block 70 aircraft due to be delivered in the coming years.

In a July 5 statement the company also disclosed that in order to increase local support and service capabilities, Slovakia will also procure a Rohde & Schwarz URTS universal radio test set. The Slovak Air Force will receive 14 F-16 Block 70 Viper aircraft in the mid-2020s.

F-16 Viper
The Block 70 Viper is the latest in the long line of F-16 aircraft, with the Slovak Air Force due to acquire 14 in the coming years. Rohde & Schwarz

The AN/ARC-238 system consists of two transceivers: a remote-controlled transceiver installed in the avionics 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 HAVE QUICK II and SATURN.

Rohde & Schwarz is the preferred supplier of airborne radiocommunications for new production F-16 Block 70 aircraft, with the Viper the latest F-16 production configuration.