Airmen keep battlefield on radar 24/7

Published Dec. 2, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Angelique N. Smythe
451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Within the 73rd Expeditionary Air Control Squadron are controllers and surveillance teams that control the skies and air space here in Kandahar. The Airmen provide wide-area surveillance and radar operations in support of theater commanders so that they may efficiently execute missions as they receive aerial pictures of the deployed environment.

The 73rd EACS is also responsible for sending persistent radar data or an aerial picture of the area of responsibility to the 71st EACS, which tactically controls the 73rd EACS and is located in a remote area of Southwest Asia. This allows controllers there to guide aircraft in the Afghanistan airspace towards targets in support of troops on the ground.

"Usually there are rules of engagement and actions that have to be followed before you can legally strike a target, and those are usually carried out by voice," said Maj. Reginald Slade, 73rd EACS chief of maintenance. "The links allow pilots and the operator to look at a picture and ascertain the status. Without our radars, they must use procedural controls, which would mean they would talk more by radio, as they would be unable to see what they were flying toward. It's like listening to a radio versus having television. You'd much rather see what you're hearing."

For example, whatever the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft sees in their cockpits is actually a direct link from what this team produces.

"That actual aerial picture or that ground picture is what we're ensuring they get so they can go in and put bombs on target," said Capt. John Lucas, 73rd EACS director of operations.

The 73rd EACS is responsible for two radar sites on Kandahar Airfield. As Afghanistan's Regional Interface Control officer, Captain Lucas controls the RIC cell that controls the link for the entire AOR.

Major Slade is in charge of the Airmen who maintain the radar, satellite equipment and all other power requirements on site.

"Our responsibility is to ensure that the equipment, radars, satellite vans, network equipment, generators and also the power requirements for the site are in place and operational," Major Slade said. "The site is held up by our professional enlisted folks, and we work 24/7 around the clock to keep these systems going."

Within the past 30 days alone, the 73rd EACS has supported close to 1,050 unmanned aerial support missions, approximately 770 intelligence surveillance reconnaissance missions, about 700 transports, more than 470 close air support operations, almost 400 air refueling missions, up to 190 troops in contact of enemy fire, around 60 special operations forces missions and two combat search and rescue missions.

The team provides everything from the entire radar picture to all the enriched data that lies on top of that radar picture, such as airports, parks, and museums.

They not only assist Army and Air Force personnel, but other coalition forces as well.

"Canadians deal with the Joint Tactical Air Controller on their side," said Captain Lucas. "They're actually out in the field getting eyes on a target and controlling aircraft in on to that target. A lot of times, they need the actual digital picture from us ... the actual link picture so they can have a little more situational awareness in order to perform the takeout.

"The British are a version of the 71st EACS, but they are responsible for one half of Afghanistan. So, we work in conjunction with them to make sure the link picture they're providing gets down to Kandahar Airfield as well."

This diverse, self-contained unit, deployed from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, consists of approximately 10 different Air Force Specialty Codes - everything they need to take care of themselves within their own section.

"We have power professionals, HVAC (heat, ventilation and air condition), AGE (Aerospace Ground Equipment), maintainers, digital technicians, radio Airmen, radar Airmen, satellite communications Airmen, first sergeants, medics, security policemen, etc.," Major Slade said. "We have a lot of diversity on the site to make the mission happen."

Despite the harsh conditions, challenging terrain, and the 20-plus year old equipment they must use here at Kandahar, the dedicated men and women of this unit quickly adapt and adjust to accomplish the mission proficiently.

"After being down for a two-week period, we had a TPS-75, which is our tactical radar on site, flown in from stateside," said Major Slade. "We were able to get a new radar van in, and they immediately had it running within less than two days. That's a big deal."

Major Slade said he attributes the success of this team to the experience of senior NCOs and the individual talents of Airmen in the flight.

"It's not just the equipment, but also the quality of life things they've done to improve our living conditions, as well as, their dedication to the mission," he said. "Whereas we're leaders, they're on autopilot. They really know what to do. So even when we've not asked them to do things, things have gotten done; and that really matters."

Captain Lucas agreed this went for both the maintenance and operations side.

"There's no way that this mission could actually be as successful as it is without the dedication we've got from our enlisted folks," he said.