thedrifter
08-18-03, 05:57 AM
Air Defense system shop one of a kind
Submitted by: MCLB Barstow
Story Identification Number: 200381413230
Story by Lance Cpl. Andy J. Hurt
MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif.(Aug. 14, 2003) -- If an enemy fighter plane is traveling from point A toward point B at 400 miles per hour, and a Patriot Missile is traveling toward an enemy plane, locked on target utilizing heat-seeking technology, which will arrive at its destination first?
Answer: Patriot Missile.
It's these kind of modern warfare dilemmas the crew of Maintenance Center Barstow Cost Work Center 735's crew face every day, with the addition of some slightly more high-tech engineering and tactical solutions thrown in.
For example, a Marine Corps battlefield radar crew sits in a virtual steel box, reading radar sent out over miles of enemy territory. The AN/TPS-63 radar system they are manning detects enemy aircraft 15 miles due south approaching a perimeter.
The crew radios in exact coordinates to an Avenger missile system, a glorified transformer-robot-looking device mounted on the rear of a Humvee, packed to the gills with anti-aircraft missiles. The Avenger sets its sights on the coordinates utilizing an infrared flare on the enemy plane. The problem is the plane is traveling so fast that drawing a steady bead on the "bogey" is nearly impossible. The crew fires anyway, and in a split second, the Avenger corrects itself, fires the missile and lets technology do the rest. Enemy aircraft down, democracy wins once again.
This kind of technology would not be feasible if it weren't for CWC 735 continually maintaining the technology that makes these missions possible.
Bob Monroe, Avenger Missile Systems specialist at MCB CWC 735, said that when even a small circuit board in the system is down, the machine improperly responds.
Monroe receives parts from these unique systems year-round. Maintenance is performed by placing a malfunctioning part into MCB's Integrated Family of Test Equipment, or IFTE, locating the problem and making the repairs.
"It's one of a kind," said Monroe.
Literally, this system is the only type of its kind in existence and it takes a highly trained crew to operate.
The IFTE is based on a fully functional Avenger system loaded with dummy missiles and diagnostic circuits. A malfunctioning part can be installed anywhere in the system to replace a functioning part. The crew then executes a complete launch sequence and evaluates the performance to determine why and where the malfunction is.
This is the exact same equipment, manned by Marines, that forms a perimeter around Washington, D.C., 24 hours a day, seven days a week, said Monroe.
According to Monroe, "They're not going to trust just anybody to guard the president."
But air defense systems have to detect a target before they have anything to fire at. Enter the AN/TPS-59 radar system.
The radar sends a powerful signal across enemy territory, and if there is something approaching, it will find it, said Danny Bigornoa, a radar specialist at CWC 735.
The systems are so effective that they are sold to foreign military around the world. Most recently, systems were sold to allies in Bahrain, according to Larry Russell, Integrated Systems Supervisor at CWC 735.
Radar equipment and Avenger anti-aircraft weapons are so high-tech it takes specialized Marines working with specialized civilians to operate.
The crew at CWC 735 works consistently to maintain these systems day after day in support of global military operations, a work ethic that is often overlooked due to the secrecy surrounding the weapons.
Without the air defense systems shop civilian Marines' knowledge and expertise, the precision weapons systems and radar could not maintain combat-effectiveness.
"These are the very same weapons made famous during the first Gulf War," said Monroe. "You've probably seen them through night-vision on CNN."
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
Submitted by: MCLB Barstow
Story Identification Number: 200381413230
Story by Lance Cpl. Andy J. Hurt
MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif.(Aug. 14, 2003) -- If an enemy fighter plane is traveling from point A toward point B at 400 miles per hour, and a Patriot Missile is traveling toward an enemy plane, locked on target utilizing heat-seeking technology, which will arrive at its destination first?
Answer: Patriot Missile.
It's these kind of modern warfare dilemmas the crew of Maintenance Center Barstow Cost Work Center 735's crew face every day, with the addition of some slightly more high-tech engineering and tactical solutions thrown in.
For example, a Marine Corps battlefield radar crew sits in a virtual steel box, reading radar sent out over miles of enemy territory. The AN/TPS-63 radar system they are manning detects enemy aircraft 15 miles due south approaching a perimeter.
The crew radios in exact coordinates to an Avenger missile system, a glorified transformer-robot-looking device mounted on the rear of a Humvee, packed to the gills with anti-aircraft missiles. The Avenger sets its sights on the coordinates utilizing an infrared flare on the enemy plane. The problem is the plane is traveling so fast that drawing a steady bead on the "bogey" is nearly impossible. The crew fires anyway, and in a split second, the Avenger corrects itself, fires the missile and lets technology do the rest. Enemy aircraft down, democracy wins once again.
This kind of technology would not be feasible if it weren't for CWC 735 continually maintaining the technology that makes these missions possible.
Bob Monroe, Avenger Missile Systems specialist at MCB CWC 735, said that when even a small circuit board in the system is down, the machine improperly responds.
Monroe receives parts from these unique systems year-round. Maintenance is performed by placing a malfunctioning part into MCB's Integrated Family of Test Equipment, or IFTE, locating the problem and making the repairs.
"It's one of a kind," said Monroe.
Literally, this system is the only type of its kind in existence and it takes a highly trained crew to operate.
The IFTE is based on a fully functional Avenger system loaded with dummy missiles and diagnostic circuits. A malfunctioning part can be installed anywhere in the system to replace a functioning part. The crew then executes a complete launch sequence and evaluates the performance to determine why and where the malfunction is.
This is the exact same equipment, manned by Marines, that forms a perimeter around Washington, D.C., 24 hours a day, seven days a week, said Monroe.
According to Monroe, "They're not going to trust just anybody to guard the president."
But air defense systems have to detect a target before they have anything to fire at. Enter the AN/TPS-59 radar system.
The radar sends a powerful signal across enemy territory, and if there is something approaching, it will find it, said Danny Bigornoa, a radar specialist at CWC 735.
The systems are so effective that they are sold to foreign military around the world. Most recently, systems were sold to allies in Bahrain, according to Larry Russell, Integrated Systems Supervisor at CWC 735.
Radar equipment and Avenger anti-aircraft weapons are so high-tech it takes specialized Marines working with specialized civilians to operate.
The crew at CWC 735 works consistently to maintain these systems day after day in support of global military operations, a work ethic that is often overlooked due to the secrecy surrounding the weapons.
Without the air defense systems shop civilian Marines' knowledge and expertise, the precision weapons systems and radar could not maintain combat-effectiveness.
"These are the very same weapons made famous during the first Gulf War," said Monroe. "You've probably seen them through night-vision on CNN."
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: