Radar maintainers provide clear picture for warfighters

Published July 10, 2015
By Tech. Sgt. Christopher Boitz
380th Air Expeditionary Wing

Southwest Asia -- Having a sight picture of the airspace over an area of responsibility is critical in any operation. It allows combatant commanders and all levels of leadership the ability to make real-time decisions affecting everything from aerial operations to ground forces.

Those decisions couldn’t be made without the capabilities provided by the TPS-75 radar system employed and maintained by the Airmen from the Expeditionary Air Control Squadron.

Radar, which stands for radio detection and ranging, transmits a radio wave and when it detects something it is transmitted back, allowing the end user to determine what is out there and how far away it is.

The TPS-75 radar is a 3-dimensional, tactical radar designed to conduct long-range search, identify friend-or-foe, and altitude-finding operations simultaneously. The TPS-75 is the primary Aerospace Control and Warning (AC&W) system which provides the Ground Theater Air Control System (GTACS) with a real-time airspace picture.

Radar maintainers are responsible for repairing circuit cards, checking voltage levels, performing alignments, lubricating equipment, inspecting for corrosion, performing checks on amplitude and broadcast signals, and changing settings based on operational needs.

“Our main objective is maintenance of the electronic components and the mechanical assemblies that drive the antenna of the TPS-75 radar,” said Tech. Sgt. Jonathan, radar craftsman. “We also service the modems and fiber cables that send our information over to the operations area where the aircraft are controlled.”

The TPS-75 radar is the eyes and ears for many of its end users. It’s approximately four times more powerful than typical air traffic control radar which allows it to see further, amplifying coalition capabilities.

“We operate in a similar manner to the E-3 Sentry AWACS [aircraft], but from the ground,” said Senior Master Sgt. Robert, noncommissioned officer in charge of radar. “Radar allows us to monitor the air without having to have aircraft in the sky constantly. It also allows us to perform early warning and surveillance and to monitor and control the airspace, allowing us to have eyes on everything that is in the air.”

Providing those capabilities to the air control operators and key decision makers requires the maintainers to ensure the radar is running 24 hours a day.

“With as many capabilities as this system has, there are a lot of things we need to check on to make sure they still work,” Said SMSgt Robert. “We have to make sure that the picture we’re sending to the operators is optimized which takes a lot of work on our end. Our job is to make sure the air control operators can provide a constant flow of aircraft that are carrying ordnance to strike the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.”

The time and effort maintaining a critical asset for warfighters everywhere combating ISIL is important not only key decision makers, it’s important to the Airmen who enable it.

“I love my job. Everybody who works in radar loves their job. It’s a very diverse mission but at the same time we’re very autonomous,” said TSgt. Jonathan. “This job doesn’t get boring. You’re always seeing something different; there aren’t a lot of repeat problems, so it keeps it interesting.”

(Editor’s note: Due to safety and security reasons unit designators were removed.)