R-187 Azart

The R-187 "Azart" (Russian: Р-187 "Азарт", "Excitement") is a Russian tactical and public safety handheld radio developed and produced by NPO Angstrem for the Russian Ministry of Defense. It is a component of the Ratnik infantry combat system.

Service
The Azart-P1 was first seen in use by Russian public safety agencies during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The Azart-P1 has seen service with the Russian Armed Forces during its involvement in the Syrian Civil War, and the War in Ukraine, during which many Azart radios have been captured by Ukrainian soldiers.

The model in service with the Russian Armed Forces is the R-187-P1, the export model is the R-187-P1E. The R-187V is a vehicle mounted version of the R-187-P1 with a higher transmit power and larger frequency range.

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 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. Ukrainian radio experts report these antennas typically achieve a standing wave ratio of 1.5 to 3.

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. Some radios have also been found to use Taiwanese-made, American-designed microchips for encrypting radio traffic.

Specifications

 * Frequency range: 27 - 520 MHz
 * 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)

Comparable radios

 * AN/PRC-148
 * AN/PRC-152
 * AN/PRC-153