--AUTOMATIC LINK ESTABLISHMENT--THE KEY TO RELIABLE HELICOPTER NOE COMMUNICATIONS

Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) is a new waveform standard designed to manage HF communications frequency selection and radio operations. The waveform is described and the implementation and operation of a helicopter-mounted AN/ARC-199 ALE HF radio is discussed. Test results of an evaluation program are presented which show the helicopter HF communications reliability for NOE (Nap-Of-the-Earth) operations at ranges of 8 to 236 KM and at all times of day. It is shown that NOE HF voice communications reliability exceeds 90% using ALE for all ranges and times of day.