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Microwaves provide secure line of communication

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Spencer Gallien
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Four communications Airmen have been given the responsibility of maintaining command and control communication lines for U.S. Army Patriot missile batteries through a system of Tropospheric Scatter Microwave Radio Terminals here.

The TRC-170, or Track 170, is used for beyond-line-of-sight communications. The system provides constant communication between launch control and Patriot batteries across the area of responsibility.

"This link made possible a robust, integrated theatre ballistic missile defense posture capable of combating any airborne threat to a combined 2.4 million military and civilian population in two countries," said Capt. Lloyd McDonald, 379th Expeditionary Communications Squadron.

The TRC-170 is a transportable terminal capable of transmitting and receiving digital data over long distances.

"It gives them (U.S. Army) the ability to communicate between all batteries," said Staff Sgt. Jordan Fitzgerald, 379th ECS NCO-in-charge of tropospheric communications. "We are in a link configuration, providing constant communication for the Patriot batteries across the AOR."

The group of four Airmen maintaining the TRC-170 at this location are one of several teams co-located with firing batteries in two countries across the AOR. Successful execution of their mission ensures a consistent and reliable flow of command and control capability between launch control and firing batteries.

"The Army currently has other systems in place to provide communications for their batteries, however, we provide a stable communication line 24/7," added Sergeant Fitzgerald. "There's a very small time frame from when the Patriot battery personnel detect a missile to when they need to launch, we are here to provide constant maintenance, in turn, providing constant communication."
Sergeant Fitzgerald, along with his team, Senior Airman Zachary Bulmer and Airmen 1st Class James Godfrey and Nicholas Taghon, work 24 hours on, 24 hours off, to provide the constant flow of communications.

"The system itself is almost 40 years old," Sergeant Fitzgerald said. "It's extremely durable, able to overcome many of the harshest conditions known."

The terminal's antennae produces 11,000 watts of energy, which is sent as a signal to the troposphere. The signal then bounces off the troposphere and comes back to earth, reaching its next destination, another TRC-170 system, added Sergeant Fitzgerald.

"It's basically an overly-complicated version of a household microwave," he added. "You could even pop corn on it if you really wanted to."

Although the system has been in use for nearly 40 years, it's a very unique situation for the Airmen, he said.

"Working here has definitely been a challenge," said Sergeant Fitzgerald. "This is the only tropo mission I've heard of. We really are learning as we go out here."

"We've had to really just improvise out here to keep the system up and running," he added. "We are continually learning and making improvements, and we will continue to grow as we spend time here and maintain the system."