[Milsurplus] Long-lived (on active duty) US Radio Sets

[Mike Morrow]

> ...the ARC-27 may have the largest production run and longest service record
> of any military radio.

The AN/ARC-27/55 is one of the most important command sets in US military history,
starting at least in 1952 and maybe a little earlier.  Some were still in service
in the 1970s, after more than 25 years of service.  

But the AN/ARC-8 (T-47A/ART-13 and BC-348-*) was still flying in the early 1970s,
for about a 30-year run.  The same can be said for the AN/ARN-6, the AN/ARC-3 and
its conversions to the AN/ARC-36 and -49, or the AN/APX-6 and its conversions to
the AN/APX-25.  In later UHF command set service, it's likely that the AN/ARC-51
series, especially AN/ARC-51BX, beats AN/ARC-27 longevity.  The Collins 618T-2
and -3 (AN/ARC-94 and -102) give the AN/ARC-27/55 close service time competition
as well.  Outside airborne sets, the Bendix R-1051*/T-827*/RT-618*/AM-3007 USN
sets likely exceed the service time of those other sets.

But forget all of those.  *None* of these meet the service duration of the AN/VRC-12
series.  These FM tactical radios were first deployed around 1961, and were finally
phased out of US service in 2008.

  http://www.army.mil/article/14412/legacy-radio-system-retired-from-army-guard/

This article above stretches the longevity a bit by claiming service in the
1950s...but 47 years is still a very impressive run for any electronic system
anywhere.  Without doubt the AN/VRC-12-series serves today in some non-US
military organizations.

Mike / KK5F