The U.S. military uses a range of tactical radios that operate across high frequency (HF), very high frequency (VHF), and ultra high frequency (UHF) bands, roughly from 1.6 MHz up to 2.6 GHz depending on the system. The specific radio a service member carries depends on their role, whether they need to talk to a fire team across a building or reach a command post 1,200 kilometers away. Here’s a breakdown of the major systems in use and what each one does.
How Military Radio Bands Work
Military radios split across three main frequency bands, each with a distinct purpose. HF runs from 2 to 30 MHz and is used for long-range communication, sometimes spanning thousands of kilometers by bouncing signals off the atmosphere. VHF covers 30 to 300 MHz and handles most ground-level tactical voice communication between squads, platoons, and companies. UHF spans 300 MHz to 3 GHz and supports line-of-sight communication as well as satellite links.
Most modern military radios cover multiple bands in a single device. A squad leader carrying one radio can switch between VHF for local coordination and UHF satellite communication to reach higher headquarters on the other side of the world. This multiband capability is the defining feature of current-generation tactical radios and a major shift from older systems that were locked to a single band.
Squad-Level Handheld Radios
At the lowest level, individual soldiers and Marines carry small handheld radios for short-range communication within a squad or platoon. The AN/PRC-153 is a compact UHF radio operating between 380 and 470 MHz with 2.5 to 5 watts of output power. It runs on rechargeable nickel-metal hydride batteries and is designed for close-range voice communication in urban environments or dense terrain where teams need to stay connected across a few hundred meters to a couple of kilometers.
The AN/PRC-148, sometimes called the MBITR (Multiband Inter/Intra Team Radio), is a step up. It covers 30 to 512 MHz, spanning both VHF and UHF, and even supports UHF satellite communication. Its power output tops out at 5 watts. The AN/PRC-152 covers the same frequency range but adds a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and can be connected to a power amplifier to push output up to 50 watts for longer range. Both the 148 and 152 are widely used across all branches and have been workhorses for over a decade.
The Next-Generation Leader Radio
The Army is in the middle of a large-scale modernization effort called the Handheld, Manpack and Small Form Fit (HMS) program, which is replacing legacy radios across the force. The newest handheld in this program is the AN/PRC-163, a dual-channel radio that represents a significant leap over older single-channel handhelds.
What makes the PRC-163 different is that it can operate on two channels at the same time. A soldier can monitor a satellite link to a command post while simultaneously talking on a local VHF network, all from one device. It covers an enormous frequency range, from 30 MHz all the way up to 2.6 GHz, and can network up to 200 users at once. It also handles encrypted data, video, and voice simultaneously, and can even function as a controller for unmanned aerial vehicles. Previously, getting all of those capabilities required carrying multiple radios with different battery types. The PRC-163 consolidates them into a single handheld, which matters enormously when every ounce in a rucksack counts.
Manpack Radios for Platoon and Company Use
Manpack radios are larger systems carried in a rucksack, typically by a radio operator attached to a platoon or company headquarters. They deliver more power and longer range than handhelds while still being portable on foot.
The AN/PRC-117G, built by L3Harris under the Falcon III family, is one of the most widely fielded manpack radios. It covers VHF, UHF, and satellite communication bands, and is about 30% smaller and 35% lighter than previous manpack radios. It’s software-defined, meaning its capabilities can be upgraded in the field through software updates rather than hardware swaps. The 117G is ready for the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), which is the military’s next-generation narrowband satellite network, and it can handle simultaneous satellite voice and data transmission. When paired with a broadband satellite terminal, it provides internet access and remote network connectivity, giving a dismounted unit in a remote location the kind of data access that used to require a vehicle or a fixed installation.
The older AN/PRC-119, part of the SINCGARS family, has been the primary VHF radio for Marine ground forces for years. It operates between 30 and 88 MHz with up to 10 watts of power, or 50 watts with an amplifier. SINCGARS introduced frequency hopping to make communications harder to intercept or jam. While it’s being phased out in favor of newer systems, it remains in widespread use.
Long-Range HF Radios
When units need to communicate over very long distances without relying on satellites, they turn to high-frequency radios. HF signals can bounce off the ionosphere in what’s called a sky wave, traveling far beyond the horizon without any relay infrastructure.
The AN/PRC-160 is the current top-of-the-line wideband HF manpack radio. It’s the smallest and lightest Type 1-certified (meaning approved for classified traffic) HF manpack available, transmitting data in bandwidths from 3 kHz to 24 kHz. Using a horizontal dipole antenna, it can reach distances upward of 1,200 kilometers via sky wave. That’s enough range for units stationed in Hawaii to communicate directly with forces in the Philippines, Australia, or Indonesia without touching a satellite. The 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team has specifically adopted HF as a way to maintain communication when satellite links are contested or unavailable, a scenario that’s increasingly relevant as adversaries develop satellite jamming capabilities.
The older AN/PRC-150 fills a similar role, covering 1.6 to 60 MHz with up to 20 watts of power. It remains in inventory alongside the PRC-160.
Vehicle-Mounted Systems
Many of the same radios used on foot are also installed in vehicles, where they benefit from the vehicle’s electrical power and larger antennas. The Army’s HMS platform integration team currently maintains roughly 100 different technical data packages for vehicle installation kits, covering two manpack radio variants and two leader radio (handheld) variants. These kits adapt the portable radios to work inside Humvees, MRAPs, Strykers, and other vehicles.
When mounted in a vehicle, a radio like the AN/PRC-152 can be connected to a power amplifier pushing 50 watts, dramatically increasing its range compared to handheld operation at 5 watts. The vehicle’s roof-mounted antenna also provides better elevation and a clearer signal path than a soldier’s whip antenna at ground level. Vehicle installations typically include multiple radios so a crew can monitor several networks at once, for example tracking a battalion command net, a company tactical net, and an aviation support net simultaneously.
Why Software-Defined Radios Changed Everything
The single biggest shift in military communications over the past two decades is the move to software-defined radios. Older systems like SINCGARS were built around fixed hardware that could only operate on specific frequencies using specific waveforms. If the military wanted a new capability, it needed a new radio.
Modern radios like the AN/PRC-117G, AN/PRC-163, and AN/PRC-160 run their waveforms in software. This means the same physical radio can be reprogrammed to use new encryption, new networking protocols, or new frequency bands as they become available. It also means a single radio can switch between completely different communication modes, from a legacy SINCGARS-compatible waveform for talking to older units, to a modern wideband waveform for streaming video, to a satellite link for reaching the other side of the planet. That flexibility is why the military has invested so heavily in fielding these systems across every vehicle and infantry unit in the force.