PRC-112D Survival Radio with Battery Packs

In personnel recovery scenarios for U.S. aircrew combat missions, the location of the survivor and the time associated with the extraction has a direct impact on the success of the recovery mission. The combat survivor typically depends on aircraft beacons and survival radios to support search and rescue teams in the identification and location of the survivor. The operation and capabilities of the AN/PRC-112 Survival Radio have a direct impact on the direction finding and location methods deployed by search and rescue aircraft. The packaging of the radio and the operation of its subassemblies and components have a direct impact on the overall reliability and effectiveness of the CSAR mission.

ACI has provided the Army with previously difficult to obtain parts required for repair and manufacturing of the PRC-112D Survival Radio. This effort has permitted sustainability of the radios and upgraded their reliability and capability. Ultimately, this enhanced the effectiveness of the CSAR mission to rapidly locate and extract our downed warfighters.

The standard battery for the radio is a sealed lithium sulfur dioxide battery, which is discarded after discharge. The concept of the rechargeable battery pack is to use commercial NiMH AA size rechargeable batteries in an 8-cell configuration. Due to the wide variety of NiMH batteries, there are multiple vendors that can provide these commercial cells with little difference in performance. One of the design benefits of the re-designed battery packs is the use of the same plastic housing for both the non-rechargeable and rechargeable battery pack. The major differences between the two are in the use of external connectors and switches and the internal electrical circuitry. Both battery packs contain 8 AA size cells – the non-rechargeable battery pack creates a 12-volt battery pack with the L91 Lithium chemistry (1.5V/cell) and the rechargeable battery pack creates a 9.6-volt battery pack with the NiMH chemistry (1.2V/cell).

The rechargeable battery pack has a push to test feature that provides a cell voltage indication of 8.0 volts or greater and has an ability to directly interface with ACI’s man-portable charger that will interface with any DC energy source that has a voltage between 9.6 and 36 volts.

“For Battery Pack and Battery Charger part number information, see table below.

For ordering information, refer to the following contact:

Battle Creek Customer Interaction Center
Defense Logistics Information Service
74 Washington Ave. N
Battle Creek, MI 49017-3084

Phone: 1-877-352-2255 / DSN 661-7766 / (269) 961-7766
Fax:     DSN 661-5305 / (269) 961-5305
Email:  dlis-support@dla.mil 
URL:    https://www.webflis.dlis.dla.mil/WEBFLIS/ASPscripts/pub_search.aspx