These radios are part of the bail out kit that aircrew members carry. It is turned on by the user, not automatically like the URT-33.

The improved PRC-90-2 survival transceiver is familiar to most military aviators as the rugged, hand-held survival radio that has saved the lives of thousands of downed pilots and crew members. It has voice and beacon capability on the military distress frequency of 243.0 with voice Tx and Rx only on 282.8 MHz. 282.2 MHz is used by the Civil Air Patrol for ground - air coms with military aircraft during SAR operations.

These radios were carried for emergency communication with aircraft or rescue crews. They were typicaly carried in the top left pocket of the Jungle Fatigues.