R-187 Azart
| R-187-P1 "Azart" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Handheld tactical radio |
| Service History | |
| In service | since 2014 |
| Used by | Russian Armed Forces,
Russian public safety agencies |
| Wars | Syrian Civil War, Russo-Ukrainian War |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | NPO Angstrem |
| Production years | 2014 - ongoing |
| Specifications | |
| Frequency range | 27-520 MHz |
| Transmit power | up to 4 watts |
| Modes | analog voice, digital voice and data |
| Weight | 466 g (w/o battery and antenna) |
The R-187 "Azart" (Russian: Р-187 "Азарт", "Excitement") is a Russian tactical and public safety handheld radio developed and produced by NPO Angstrem[1] for the Russian Ministry of Defense. It is a component of the Ratnik infantry combat system.[2]
Service
The Azart-P1 was first seen in use by Russian public safety agencies during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.[3] The Azart-P1 has seen service with the Russian Armed Forces during its involvement in the Syrian Civil War,[4] and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, during which many Azart radios have been captured by Ukrainian soldiers.[5]
The model in service with the Russian Armed Forces is the R-187-P1, the export model is the R-187-P1E.[1] The R-187V is a vehicle mounted version of the R-187-P1 with a higher transmit power and larger frequency range.[6]
Technical characteristics
The Azart-P1 is capable of VHF/UHF Line of Sight (VULOS) communications in simplex modes, duplex, and repeater modes. It is also compatible with TETRA networks[7] in trunked and conventional modes, and GSM 900/1800 cellular networks.
The radio is supplied with a 27-520 MHz long antenna to cover the radios entire frequency range, a medium 100-520 MHz antenna, and a short 136-520 MHz antenna.[1] Ukrainian radio experts report these antennas typically achieve a standing wave ratio of 1.5 to 3.[5]
It has been revealed that some Azart-P1 radios were manufactured in China as a result of an embezzlement scheme that began in 2013 by General Khalil Arslanov, then head of Main Directorate of Communications of the Russian Armed Forces.[8] Some radios have also been found to use Taiwanese-made, American-designed microchips for encrypting radio traffic.[9]
Specifications
- Frequency range: 27 - 520 MHz[1]
- Modes: analog (AM, FM, USB, LSB) and digital (GSM, TETRA)
- Data speed: up to 256 kbit/s, typically 7.2 kbit/s
- Frequency hoprate: >20,000 hops/second ("Azart" waveform), 100 hops/second ("Aqueduct" waveform)
- Transmit power: up to 4 watts
- Navigation: GPS, GLONASS
- Storage capacity: 512 MB
- Antenna connector: TNC female
- Interfaces: USB, RS-485, Bluetooth
- Battery life: up to 12 hours
- Weight: 466 grams (w/o battery and antenna)
Predecessor R-168
The R-168-Akveduk (also known by the project name „Akveduk“ or aqueduct) is an important family of 5th generation digital military radios of Russian manufacture. It can be seen as the predecessor of the R-187 and was developed in the 1990s. It was introduced from the 2000s onwards to replace the outdated analog Soviet systems such as the R-158 or R-163 in the armed forces.
The R-168 is a family of devices with devices in various designs. The devices cover a wide frequency band, from shortwave (HF) to ultra-shortwave (VHF/UHF, approximately 3 MHz to 3 GHz). Operating modes include encrypted voice transmission and digital data transmission (as a radio modem with TCP/IP protocol support). For ECCM, the devices have an integrated frequency hopping (FHSS – frequency hopping) method, in which the frequency is changed many times per second in military mode to make eavesdropping and electronic jamming more difficult.
Analyses of R-168 devices captured in Ukraine showed that despite its reputation as Russian military technology, globally procured microelectronics and standard components some of Western origin, like TI were also used in the electronics.[10]
- R-168-0.1U(M)E / 0.1U(M)1E: Handhel (VHF) for the lowest tactical unit (Gruppe und Zug).
- R-168-5KNE: Shortwave Manpack for batailons and regiments level
- R-168-5UTE / 5KVE / 5UT-2: installed in vehicles, mobile HQ
Comparable radios
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Azart-P1". www.cryptomuseum.com. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ↑ Ebbutt, Giles (19 April 2018). "DSA 2018: Azart showcases Ratnik combat radio | Jane's 360". Archived from the original on 21 April 2018.
- ↑ ""Военные" радиостанции "Ангстрема" использовались для связи в Сочи". Время электроники (in Russian). 2014-03-23. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
- ↑ Thomas, Timothy (June 2020). Russian lessons learned in Syria - An assessment (PDF). MITRE Center for Technology and National Security. p. 18.
- 1 2 "Як користуватися трофейною радіостанцією Р-187-П1 "Азарт"". armyinform.com.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ↑ "Azart - Standardized Tactical Command and Control Radio-Communication System". Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ↑ Withington, Dr Thomas (2022-04-01). "TETRA Talk". Armada International. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ↑ "К военным поставкам подходят с гражданским азартом". Коммерсантъ (in Russian). 2021-03-04. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ↑ "Russian "native" military radio station uses microchip made in Taiwan to encrypt data - Technology Org". 2022-11-20. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ↑ "American microchips were found in the radio stations of the Russian army". Militarnyi. Retrieved 2026-08-12.