It directly provides internet access to battlefield units, a capability called "Tactical Internet" (TI). It also has direct interfaces for GPS and tactical computer systems. It is the real hardware behind much of the new U.S. intiative to modernise and automate the battlefield. The U.S. military calls this programme "Task Force XXI" because they hope it will bring them into the 21st century. The most recent requirements document is for March 2, 1992; The original specification dates from 1974.
SINCGARS operates in the VHF miltiary radio band, from 30 to 88 MHz.
SINCGARS is modular to have commonality among ground and airborne systems. The manpack and vehicular radios use the same receiver-transmitter. It meets NATO interoperability requirements. The system divides its 58 MHz of range into 2320 channels. It's supposed to survive in a nuclear environment, which specifically includes operation within electromagnetic pulse envelopes.
SINCGARs maintains communications security (COMSEC) by the KY-57 (sometimes called the VINSON device). SINCGARS uses a type of spread spectrum called frequency hopping to resist jamming and to lower the probability of interception by hostile forces.
SINCGARS is replacing the incrementally-improved Korean-war and Vietnam-war-era crystal-controlled radios (AN/PRC-77 and AN/VRC-12). An aircraft radio SINCGARS is in production, and is phasing out the current air-to-ground radios (AN/ARC-114 and AN/ARC-131).
Because it uses modern digital technologies, SINCGARS is rapidly improving, using commercial microcircuitry for mobile phones. The U.S. has an "active improvement" program to encourage the vendor(s) to reduce the size and weight of SINCGARS.
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