Hanscom AFB helping today’s warfighters with a FEURY

  • Published
  • By Patty Welsh
  • 66rh Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. (AFNS) --  A small team here is improving warfighter capabilities by providing full motion video systems for those deployed in theater.

Full Motion Video Extension and Unified Relay (FEURY) is a response to current conflicts. FEURY collects near-real-time, quality 24/7 full motion video for distribution to engagement authorities located in tactical operations centers or mission operations centers to aid in decision making.

"FEURY allows JTACS (joint terminal attack controllers) and strike coordinators to monitor targets, while never leaving the wire," said 1st Lt. Luke McNamara, the FEURY lead engineer. The capability significantly extended the range of non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance advanced targeting pods.

The FEURY Program Management Office at Hanscom Air Force Base was able to successfully deliver this critical joint urgent operational need in less than 65 days, and for under $9 million. Due to the continuing program and mission success, FEURY was awarded as an effort to be sustained in theater.

Members of the program management office attribute the delivery speed to its decision to use organic resources as the system integrators and installers. Integrating existing government-off-the-shelf hardware already used by the military also contributed to rapid acquisition, installation and maintenance. Quality was not compromised, however, as the systems have been operating in remote, austere and unpredictable environments for nearly two years.

To ensure this critical capability is accessible, the FEURY team, which has never been more than four members, has deployed multiple times in less than two years for site surveys, "down-range" system installs and upgrades and the occasional repair, all while effectively maintaining the programmatic side of the house.

“This team has done an absolutely phenomenal job. They have figuratively and literally delivered crucial combat to the tactical edge in our nation's fight against ISIS,” said Maj. Gen. Dwyer Dennis, the command, control, communications, intelligence and networks program executive officer. “Project FEURY and this team are shining examples of our Air Force's acquisition warriors who are making truly significant -- if not game-changing -- mission contributions on a daily basis.”