To provide a radio communication system preventing a plurality of radio terminals from being simultaneously turned to a transmission mode when performing group communication in a direct communication mode.

The radio communication system is provided with a transmission right control means consisting of: a transmission right request means 11 which requests transmission to a transmission right control station when the radio terminal performs the group communication in the direct communication mode; a transmission right permission means 12 which functions only when the radio terminal becomes the transmission right control station and returns a transmission right permission signal to the radio terminal which has transmitted a transmission right request signal; a permission signal detection means 13 which gives a switching signal when detecting the transmission right permission signal from the transmission right control station; and a control mode switching means 14 which receives the switching signal and switches from a transmission mode to a reception mode when the transmission right permission means 12 returns the transmission right permission signal in the transmission right control station, and switches from the reception mode to the transmission mode when the return of the transmission right permission signal is received in the radio terminal which has requested the transmission right.