Airmen keep eyes on the sky to protect warfighters

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Clinton Atkins
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) --  Airmen of the 71st Expeditionary Air Control Squadron keep vigilant eyes on the sky over the Gulf region to keep American and coalition forces safe and secure.

The members of the squadron provide a constant and extensive radar presence over the entire Arabian Gulf region, and can identify anyone and anything flying in their area of operations.

"We provide persistent, long-range radar detection in the Arabian Gulf, which consists of a 350,000 square nautical mile area," said Capt. Frank Dibonaventuro, a 71st EACS air surveillance officer and native of Green Lane, Pa. "Without our long-range capability, we could have an aircraft high-jacking similar to (Sept. 11, 2001). We track every aircraft in the sky -- friendly and foe."

Through their control and reporting center -- two operator modules working around the clock -- the 71st EACS Airmen provide the Combined Air and Space Operations Center with real-time, detailed data of anything happening in the sky. The 71st EACS staff may track as many as 1,000 different aircraft in a day.

"All of our generated data paints a detailed picture for the CAOC, which is also used in their (situational report)," said Airman 1st Class Erik Padgett, a 71st EACS surveillance technician and native of Jasper, Texas. "It's my job to compile all of the data."

Through a data link connecting the CAOC and radar facilities, the 71st EACS members instantaneously provide senior leaders with the vital information.

"With the air picture we provide, the leaders at the CAOC can make the best decision possible with the data at hand," said Staff Sgt. Randy Bowser, a 71st EACS interface control technician and native of New Britain, Conn.

The squadron's long range detection also acts as an early warning system and together with the Army's 2-43 Air Defense Artillery provides unparalleled detection and threat elimination capabilities for the base, said Maj. Rob Peacock, the 71st EACS commander.

"With our detailed information we are able to distinguish the flight characteristics of any aircraft flying within our range, which allows us to determine if a plane is friendly or foe," said the Dallas native. "If we detect something that doesn't make sense, then we can coordinate with the Patriots and pass that data and information to them. We can also coordinate with the CAOC and make sure they're aware of what's going on.

"I would say the enemy would feel a little intimidated to try anything with our capabilities in this region," he said.

Airmen of the 71st EACS will also soon transition into a new, stat-of-the-art facility that will increase the squadron's abilities.

"We will be moving into a new $30 million facility called the Battlefield Command and Control Center, which will further enhance our capabilities by allowing us to use more operators to control the airspace," Major Peacock said. "In the future, BC3 will also allow us to take on an expanded mission set. If we had to, we will even be able to control radar operations in multiple theaters at once."

The detection capabilities of today's military partly came to fruition by learning from past tragedies, Major Peacock said.

"The attack on Pearl Harbor was so successful for the Japanese because of the failure of the air defense system to recognize adversary aircraft and the lack of necessary procedures to know how to react," he said. "That's the kind of capability we provide now to prevent that from ever happening again."

Having the right equipment is essential, but it's the Airmen in this squadron who make the mission successful, Major Peacock said.

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