Radar puts cost savings, technology on scope

Published May 12, 2013
By Staff Sgt. Tong Duong
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- An iconic fixture on the runway for more than 20 years was dismantled after being updated with digital technology, March 30, 2013.

The Analog Airport Surveillance Radar in use for decades by air traffic controllers (ATC) was torn down as it has been offline for more than a year and was no longer needed for service. A Digital Airport Surveillance Radar (DASAR) took over its duties.

"The new radar system allowed ATCs to positively identify the position and range of an aircraft while accurately guiding them on their route to the runway," said Tech. Sgt. Jacob Stockwell, 8th Communication Squadron NCO in charge of ground radar.

Useable parts from the analog radar were separated and reclaimed into the Air Force supply system. For instance, radar maintainers supplied their Osan Air Base, ROK counterparts with pieces of the radar system here, to ensure the Mustang's mission continued. The rest were turned over to the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DMRO) for scrap metal.

Due to obsolete high voltage components, the maintenance cost for the analog radar system varied yearly from $50,000 to $250,000, while support and supplies for the DASAR are readily available in the Air Force supply system. Not only was it a cost savings to the Air Force, but it brought the base's radar technology up to speed. The Defense Department and Federal Aviation Administration currently run the same radar system.

"The new digital radar provided air traffic and radar approach controllers a more accurate air control usage," Stockwell said. "It's like comparing a plasma screen to a tube television set, it shows a better picture of what was going on and made targets more distinguishable."

According to Stockwell, not only was the analog radar system outdated, but it was more maintenance intensive.

"The older system required significant man hours to upkeep, and it was harder to troubleshoot," he said. "The technical orders were not written well, so learned technical knowledge was needed to find the key indicators."

Depending on the trouble issues, 8th CS radar maintainers like Senior Airman Antonio Labella, had to troubleshoot more than 50 circuit cards and almost every component in the analog radars system. It sometimes took several days to figure out.

Prior to their assignment to Kunsan, radar maintainers traveled to Kessler Air Force Base, Miss., for upgrade training to become subject matter experts on the DASAR, and they rave about the ease of the system.

"It can be diagnosed in a matter of minutes," Labella said with a smile. "There are online test you can use and within two to three minutes, it will tell you which component were bad. The new technical orders are also very well written and it provided quicker solutions."

Labella said they learn a lot of respect for electricity when working around high voltage components. Now the outdated technology is a thing of the past for radar maintainers here.

"We take for granted what we have nowadays, he said. "The DASAR is a huge safety upgrade as it does not have all the dangerous high voltage components that can kill a person if the proper precautions were not taken."

With modern radar technology and a fully supported supply chain, 8th CS radar maintainers provide onsite corrective and preventative maintenance on the DASAR, to ensure continual support to the base.

"Many people directly benefit from our support, from US and ROK air forces to civilian pilots who use the airfield," Stockwell said. "Our radar maintainers ensure air traffic and radar approach controllers the ability to complete the Wolf Pack mission."