BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- Senior Airman Gil Stephens, left, holds an antenna as Airman 1st Class Sam Hauptly cleans it. Both Airmen are deployed to the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron as ground radio technicians. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Bryan Franks)
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- Airman 1st Class Josh Green checks the wires on a system in the Kingpin communications tent. He is with the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Bryan Franks)
by Senior Airmen Bryan Franks
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
1/3/2006 - BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- When Soldiers and Marines call in an air strike on an enemy position, the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron tracks the airplanes and allocates the airspace for the mission.
The squadron, known as Kingpin, is a radar control and identification agency responsible for identifying all aircraft flying in the 270,000 square miles of airspace over Iraq.
The unit is deployed in three separate locations in the region. By rapidly identifying air traffic, military or civilian, Kingpin creates a real-time "air picture" that the combined air operation center uses to maintain control of tactical air assets, said the squadron’s Capt. Keven Coyle.
When a confrontation with anti-Iraqi forces -- “troops in contact” -- occurs Kingpin Airmen work directly with the air support operations center to send in fighters to provide support.
Kingpin establishes mission airspace for fighters, bombers, unmanned aerial vehicles, tankers, and electronic warfare aircraft, Captain Coyle said. The unit disseminates tactical guidance to and from the CAOC and prioritizes the allocation of airborne fuel and tankers.
"There are special considerations, such as, how much is too much airspace to take at any one time," Captain Coyle said. "Our number one priority is supporting the tactical mission. We are fighting a war here, but we must take into account the needs of all airspace users and provide a means for safe deconfliction and timely response."
More than 170 Airmen from various career fields keep Kingpin running.
"We are a self-sustaining organization that deploys with everything we need to operate and survive," Tech. Sgt. John Palmer said. "Our maintenance function keeps our $60 million complexes running like a finely tuned machine."
Apart from directing air traffic, the unit’s Airmen also keep their operation running. They do power generation and maintenance, heating ventilation and air conditioning, vehicle maintenance, supply, radar maintenance, satellite communications, network operations, radio maintenance, technical control, digital systems maintenance and much more, Sergeant Palmer said.
