Idaho Guard helps train B-52 crews

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Val Gempis
  • Air Force Print News
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  There’s a “war” going on. Every day deployed Airmen from the 266th Range Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, are shooting, eluding and attempting to destroy B-52 Stratofortresses flying here.

However, no one gets hurt and no aircraft actually go down because the battle is done using electronic signals. The full-time Air National Guardsmen said that this training is instrumental in helping bomber crews operate in hostile environments.

Master Sgt. Patrick Christensen, a radar maintainer, said the unit’s mission here is to provide electronic-warfare training to B-52 aircrews. They simulate signal characteristics of hostile missiles, radar signals and ground-radar sites.

Threats from the ground are very real for the B-52s, he said. During operations, once the bombers hit a certain point, they do not have fighter escorts anymore.

“Their only protection is to properly identify the ground threats, isolate them and try to jam their enemy’s signals,” Sergeant Christensen said. “The chances of their survival depends on how much they learn from this training.”

The six-person group from Mountain Home AFB uses the Multiple Threat Emitter System to simulate surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft artilleries. Weighing about 90,000 pounds, MUTES is a computer-controlled, multiple emitter system installed in a mobile trailer. It is designed to transmit simulated threat signals. The signals activate aircraft-mounted missile-warning and electronic-countermeasures systems. It also contains transmitters used to simulate different radar signals.

Groups of transmitters can be emitted simultaneously to radiate signals typical of a “family” of threats. Training is focused on creating self-assurance for new combat-ready aircrews to complete their missions under pressure.

Training usually starts when the B-52s are about 75 miles from the base. The aircrew calls base Airmen to ask what kind of training they would like to accomplish that day.

Team members said the most satisfying part of their job here is the instantaneous feedback they receive.

“When they can tell us exactly what the threat is, it’s a pretty good bet that they’re fairly well-trained. It gives us confidence that our system works, and also it makes us happy to know that the crews are getting trained properly,” Sergeant Christensen said.

The battles are not one-sided here, said Tech. Sgt. Matt Davis, a ground-radar system maintainer.

Sergeant Davis said that they have to be careful when to turn on their radars. If they are detected early, the bomber aircrew will “kill” them. At other times, the aircrew will send out a decoy aircraft and at the last minute the second aircraft will appear and launch missiles at their position.

The winner depends on whose missiles get there first.