RED CLOUD GARRISON, Republic of Korea -- The 2nd Infantry division deployed a new inflatable satellite dish to support ground tactical air control communications in Korea's mountainous landscape during the Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise Aug. 17 through 28.
The satellite dish allows for line-of-sight satellite dish aiming to communications satellites above the earth in order to link with other units on the peninsula during the exercise. The new inflatable dish deployed for the first time in South Korea.
"This big green ball is called a GATR antenna," said Alan Zomchek, Northrop Grumman's Combined Operational V-sat Network - Korea satellite network engineer. "This is a 2.4 meter V-sat satellite dish, which can be deployed anywhere. It fills with air, it is lightweight and very transportable."
The dish is made of a dark green material and resembles a large beach ball of which the manufacturer, GATR (Ground to Air Transmit and Receive), says are ideal for emergency response, broadcast, and military applications when needed to provide high-bandwidth communications for secure data transmission.
They also can be deployed as reliable backup networks in emergency situations. The large green globe is not the antenna itself. The antenna is inside the inflated ball and is held up by the air pressure, which inflates the ball. The actual antenna looks like a conventional metal satellite antenna, but is made of a fabric consisting of a metal mesh that actually does the work.
"We use this antenna to provide initial command and control and to sustain communications over the COVN-K," Zomchek said. "It also can be used as a backup for strategic communications via satellite."
Satellite communications are necessary to provide line-of-sight electronic signal connections throughout Korea, Zomchek explained.
"Because Korea has a lot of mountains it is difficult to aim antennas from point to point," Zomchek said. "We need to be mobile also, so it is necessary to connect by satellite to maintain constant communications."
The GATR antenna allows for connectivity to the Army's network, mobile or stable, in a variety of situations.
"It actually provides connectivity to the network and allows for video teleconferencing, voice-over-ip telephones, DSN, and commercial access to data networks and military data networks Soldiers need to do their mission out in the field," he said.
The GATR antenna is very light and mobile; a Soldier can deflate it and carry it in a backpack. It only weighs 17 pounds, Zomchek said; however, it needs someone to attend to technical maintenance while it is operating.
"I make sure the air pressure is what it should be while it is operating," said Pfc. Craig Hall. "I have to make sure the link is connected. When the weather changes the pressure in the ball will change so I have to maintain the operating standards to keep communications open."
"Hall monitors the operational system," Zomchek said. "He takes care of all the details when we are not around to be able to set it up. It is new and we are concerned about what would happen if the power went out or something."
"We need Hall to help us keep track of all that is going on while the antenna is deployed. He maintains the operational readiness of this antenna."
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