The modernisation of the Belarussian Army’s tactical communications is continuing with recent deliveries of new R-185 Epocha command and control platforms.
Ukraine’s militarnyi website reported in late November that the Belarussian Army has received a new batch of R-185 Epocha (Р-185 Эпоха) Command and Control (C2) systems. The R-185 ensemble is housed onboard a BTR-60MB2 eight-wheel drive armoured vehicle. The reports continued that work on the R-185 commenced in 2016. According to the Belarussian Ministry of Defence, the first R-185-equipped vehicles entered service in 2020. The R-185 communications fit includes R-181-50VU-2 (Р-181-50ВУ-2), R-181-50TU (Р-181-50ТУ) and R-181-100VK (Р-181-100ВК) tactical radios.
The radios
Official Belarussian government documents specify that the R-181-50VU-2 uses frequencies of Very/Ultra High Frequencies (V/UHF: 30 megahertz/MHz to 512MHz). The radio handle two simplex (one-way) channels, and one duplex (two-way) channel. The document continues that ranges of 30 kilometres/km (18.6 miles) are achievable when the radio is stationary, with ranges of 20km (12.4 miles) possible when the radio is mobile. Unclassified data is handled at rates of 19.2 kilobits-per-second/kbps. The R-181-50VU2 carries both fixed frequency and frequency-hopping traffic.
The R-181-50TU is a VHF (30MHz to 108MHz) transceiver. Providing up to 100 channels, the radio produces between five and 50 watts/W of transmission power. Communications/Transmission Security (COMSEC/TRANSEC) comprises a minimum frequency hopping rate of 200 hops-per-second/hps. The R-181-50TU can handle data at rates of between 9.6kbps and 19.2kbps. This radio has a range of 25km (15.5 miles) when mobile, and up to 50km (31.1 miles) with a mast when the vehicle is stationary.
The R-181-100VK is a High Frequency (HF: three megahertz to 30MHz) transceiver providing up to 100W of output power. It is likely that the R-181-100VK facilitates beyond line-of-sight backhaul to higher echelons. When mobile the R-181-100VK has a range of 75km (46.6 miles), and up to 350km (217.5 miles) with a mast when the vehicle is stationary. The R-185 has also been designed to communicate with aircraft. VHF ground-to-air/air-to-ground links of up to 65 nautical miles/nm (120km) can be established using the R-181-50TU. The Epocha’s R-181-100VK HF radio permits longer ground-to-air/air-to-ground links of up to 243nm (450km).
Assessment
How many R-185 systems have been delivered to the Belarussian Army remains unknown. It is likely that the army’s signals troops, which are a separate command, are the primary Epocha users. The Belarussian Army’s order-of-battle is organised around the brigade as its primary unit of manoeuvre. Mechanised brigades have organic mechanised infantry, armour, artillery and combat support regiments and battalions. It is possible that the R-185s provide intra-brigade communications, and communications with higher echelons of command. The Epocha programme does not appear to have concluded. Additional supplies of the system can be expected in the future.
by Dr. Thomas Withington
