TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. -- Technicians here are working on the newest product in the Army's air traffic control portfolio that uses the latest digital technologies to better support tactical aviation.
The first three AN/MSQ-135 Mobile Tower Systems (MOTS) arrived at Tobyhanna Army Depot earlier this year, launching upgrade, overhaul and repair missions. In addition, Tobyhanna is slated to assume system sustainment once production is complete.
The next generation tower system is replacing the aging AN/TSW-7A Tactical Tower, which has been in the field since 1976. The MOTS provides the joint force commander with a highly mobile, self-contained, integrated and reliable information system platform. Its modular tactical air traffic control (ATC) tower system is mounted on an armored family of medium tactical vehicles.
"We've been working side-by-side with program officials to develop processes for integrating an upgrade to the MOTS, a standard communications system called TOCNET� (Tactical Operations Center Intercommunications System)," said Mike Lombardo, logistics management specialist in the Production Management Directorate. "They wanted a commonality among all of their products and since Tobyhanna was already supporting the AN/TSW-7A it was a natural transition."
Of the three MOTS on the depot, one was deployed to Southwest Asia and technicians are performing an overhaul, according to Lombardo. Another system that had been damaged is being repaired prior to upgrading the communications package.
Sierra Nevada Corp. in Sparks, Nevada, delivered 10 versions of the company's MOTS to the Army under terms of a low rate initial production contract nearly three years ago. All systems are scheduled for upgrade and will cycle through the depot between December and April.
The organization charged with developing and supporting the Army fixed-base and tactical systems necessary to support the ATC mission is the Army's Product Manager (PM) Air Traffic Control. It supports Army airfields worldwide with tactical systems that enable safe operations of Army, joint and civil aircraft.
ATC facilities, systems and support must be provided both at traditional airfields and forward-deployed battlefields. Each ATC platform must be able to communicate and interact with all aircraft, regardless of where the platform is located. Army ATC controllers track and direct planes, control airborne and ground traffic and process flight data.
"Depot personnel are building the upgrade kits according to specifications in the modification work order (MWO)," said Logistics Management Specialist Christopher Terpak, Systems Integration and Support Operations Division.
Terpak explained the kits include parts that come from three sources. Some will be fabricated internally at Tobyhanna. Others will be purchased off the shelf by the depot while more will come from the customer as government furnished equipment.
"Progress was slow at first while we worked through some issues relating to the work order," Terpak said. "Now that those matters have been worked out, we can begin releasing production to our systems and integration and support shops."
The MWO also specifies that depot personnel will upgrade the system's Humvees in the field.
The logistics management specialists praised everyone for stepping up to meet this challenge. The MOTS project is a success because of their diligence and expertise. According to Terpak the engineering group has done an "excellent" job of getting all the master data updated and into the system. Lombardo revealed the technicians have completed the necessary training to aid the depot's transition from the antiquated 7A to the state-of-the-art MOTS.
"The best thing about the new system is its new computer-driven technology," said Rick Sincavage, electronics engineering technician. "The tactical tower system is transitioning from analog switches to touch screen laptops."
Team members, including Electronics Mechanic Mel Roberts, completed computer networking classes so they could work on the MOTS. Roberts has been working on the AN/TSW-7A Tactical Tower since 2006 and welcomes the opportunity to support the new system. New to the tactical tower workload, Electronics Mechanic John Ross, said he likes working on both systems. He admits the MOTS is less complex and more user friendly.
"Everything is more cost effective and so easier to work on," Roberts said, noting better access to components, doors instead of panels and a modular design. "I've watched units conduct training missions and it seems like the Soldiers are more comfortable with the new design."
Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna's Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C4ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.
Tobyhanna's unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our Joint Warfighters.
About 3,200 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command's mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.
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