The Very High Frequency/Ultra High Frequency Communications (VHF/UHF Comms) System is utilized on amphibious ships such as the LHD-7 class to transmit and receive tactical, operational, and administrative information (both voice and data) in the VHF range (30 - 300 MHz) and the UHF range (300 MHz - 3 GHz). The VHF/UHF Comms System primarily supports line-of-sight (LOS) communications between accomplishing units. This VHF/UHF Comms System is comprised of the following subsystems: Bridge-to-Bridge Radio Group, Prifly/HDC Radio Group, GRC-211 Radio Transceiver Set, GRC-171 Radio Group, VRC-90 Radio Group, the Digital Wideband Transmission System (DWTS) (Future), WSC-3 LOS Radio Group, and the Maritime Cellular Information Exchange System (MCIXS).
The Bridge-to-Bridge provides short-range, nonsecure, bridge-to-bridge, voice communications in the VHF range.
The Prifly/HDC Radio Group provides both Prifly and HDC personnel the capability to exchange tactical operational information with ownship aircraft in the VHF/UHF range; this Radio group is used primarily as a back-up in the event of a power failure to the normal communication systems.
The GRC-211 Radio Transceiver Set provide for nonsecure, line-of-sight, ship-to-ship, and ship-to-aircraft, voice/radio-telephone communications in the VHF range.
The GRC-171 Radio Group provides for secure/nonsecure, line-of-sight, Link 4A/Link 11/locally-controlled aircraft communications in the UHF range.
The VRC-90 Radio Group provides for secure/nonsecure, frequency hopping, ship-to-ship, and ship-to-shore, radio-telephone communications in the VHF range.
The Digital Wideband Transmission System (DWTS) (Future) provides for high capacity secure/nonsecure, line-of-sight, ship-to-ship, and ship-to-shore, digital voice/data/imagery communications in the UHF range.
The WSC-3 LOS Radio Group provides for secure/nonsecure, line-of-sight, voice/teletype/digital communications in the UHF range; this radio group is also capable of providing for satellite communications.
The Maritime Cellular Information Exchange System (MCIXS) provides for a secure/nonsecure, non-tactical independent radio path in the commercial UHF cellular range, allowing intra-battle group personnel to communicate using the ship's dial telephone systems.