2. The manpack system operates in the UHF band between 225 MHz and 400 MHz. The manpack terminals
use a UHF satellite system fleet satellite (FLTSAT) and Air Force satellite (AFSAT) space segments.
3. The Army terminals using the FLTSAT space system are the AN/PSC-3, AN/VSC-7, AN/URC-101, and
AN/URC-110. The AN/PSC-3 is a manpack terminal carried by one operator. The AN/VSC-7 is a vehicle-
mounted terminal which normally acts as a net control station (NCS) and can control up to 15 subscribers. The
AN/URC-101 and AN/URC-110 are manpack terminals, each carried by one operator.
LEARNING EVENT 2: DEPLOYMENT
1. Army units such as Special Forces groups and Ranger battalions deploy manpack TACSAT terminals
worldwide. The physical environment does not restrict these deployments. The terminals are lightweight and
compact and can be moved easily by one person. The NCSs are normally vehicle-mounted. They are usually
operated from a forward operation base by Special Forces groups or from a battalion headquarters by Ranger
battalions. A network can be a small deployment (three to four terminals with one AN/VSC-7/NCS) or a larger
deployment (more than one AN/VSC-7/NCS).
2. Manpack terminals deployed worldwide are issued to support Army units. AN/VSC-7s and AN/PSC-3s
satisfy the real-time mission requirements of the following organizations:
Special Forces
Ranger battalions
Airborne/Air Assault divisions
Selected Infantry divisions (light and mechanized)
LEARNING EVENT 3: EMPLOYMENT
1. The Special Forces units use the AN/PSC-3s for group/detachment headquarters, forward operating bases,
and operational teams spread over extended distances. Command and control between major headquarters is
primarily secure voice. All users at the Special Forces team level operate in a data burst mode using the OA-
8990 data burst device.
2. The Ranger regiment/battalions command nets provide command and control from regimental headquarters
through command headquarters. They use secure voice and data burst in their operations.
SS0031
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