ESC group works to meet Iraqi air traffic control needs

  • Published
  • By Chuck Paone
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass (AFNS) --  An Electronic Systems Center group here is helping Iraqi air force officials rebuild their military air traffic control capabilities through a comprehensive foreign military sales effort. 

An 853rd Electronic Systems Group team initiated their efforts with an FMS case that began in January 2007. Through that case, U.S. technicians are delivering critical navigational aids at Kirkuk and Taji air bases, which should complete systems installation and checkout this summer.

"That was the first FMS case the center took on in support of Iraq," said Brian Schultz, director of the group's FMS division. Designed to provide some immediate needs, the effort preceded a more comprehensive 2008 Iraqi Air Sovereignty Master Plan, also conducted by ESC specialists.

"We realized that we needed the fuller study to make sure we looked at the entire country and to be able to provide a complete roadmap," Mr. Schultz said.

The master plan, which started with air traffic control needs and grew to include air defense, command and control and other air sovereignty capabilities, shows what steps Iraq officials need to take to accomplish all of this. The total timeline for its implementation stretches through 2019, according to Sal Pomponi of ESC's International Operations Division.

The master plan details, among other things, what Iraq needs, how long it will take to provide those things and estimated costs of replacing the aging and often-malfunctioning equipment currently in place. The air traffic control portion, depending on numerous variables, will probably cost more than $300 million, according to Mr. Schultz.

While that work is exclusively geared toward building up Iraqi air force air traffic control capabilities, it will also provide "synergies with civil use," Mr. Schultz said.

The 853rd ELSG team followed up on their initial FMS case with another to provide an ASR-11 digital airport surveillance radar and associated automation system at Kirkuk. The program manager also expects to complete work on that case later this summer, once all testing is complete. To meet the urgent warfighter need of this case, the group managed to accelerate the ASR-11 installation from the four years it typically takes down to less than two.

Conducting this work in Iraq was very difficult at first, said Khalid Musameh, 853rd ELSG Iraq program manager.

"It was not easy to even get simple information about the conditions we had to work in," he said. "We also had to address other issues, such as the availability of base support, use of local contractors, frequency management and shipping," all while operating in a war zone. 

However, through a combination of persistence, lots of communication and risk management, the team managed to overcome those difficulties and move ahead more easily.

"We have also had great support and teamwork with our prime contractors, who have worked through many challenges to keep these efforts on track," Mr. Musameh said.

One additional challenge the group faced was keeping an on-site presence to monitor the contractors hired to do the work and to assist with base coordination. Initially, 853rd ELSG officials used a few contractor support staff to provide this on-site presence.

Before long, though, they determined that a more robust plan was required. Working with officials at Air Forces Central and the in-country security assistance office, the team opted to offer temporary, voluntary deployments for 653rd Electronic Systems Wing military members, who have been augmenting the on-base team.

These deployments, which generally last 45 to 60 days, have proven beneficial to the programs and to the company-grade officers who have volunteered for them, said Ronnie Carter, the group director.

"This has been a great experience for our military personnel," he said. "They have been able to not only help us with our mission but to also get a close-up view of joint war-fighting operations. The feedback we have received from the deployed members and the in-country team has been very positive."

The 853rd ELSG team already is beginning work on additional FMS cases, Mr. Schultz said. They include radar and air traffic control visual simulators and ATC Tower equipment integrations.

The tower integrations involve working with the Army Corps of Engineers to ensure the new towers are properly designed and equipped. Another large FMS case also is in development for Al Kut Air Base, and more work is also expected soon at Tikrit.

"I think we're going to be very busy for a long time," Mr. Schultz said, noting that his group also is engaged in discussions about impending needs in Afghanistan.

"There's a different dynamic in place there since NATO, not the U.S., has lead authority, but they certainly have many similar needs and we're prepared to help if we can," he said. 

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