Army begins acceptance of mobile military air traffic control towers from Sierra Nevada
SPARKS, Nev., 18 March 2013. Air traffic control systems designers at Sierra Nevada Corp. in Sparks, Nev., have begun deliveries of a rapidly deployable military air traffic control system with secure and non-secure radio communications and support equipment to the U.S. Army.
Sierra Nevada is delivering the first 10 versions of the company's Mobile Tower System (MOTS) to the Army under terms of a low rate initial production (LRIP) contract. An early development MOTS has been deployed with the 3rd Infantry Division in Afghanistan since last November.
The modular MOTS includes a air traffic control tower with organic 18-kilowatt power generators, a medium intensity solar powered airfield runway lighting system, and weather sensors. The ATC tower can be transported by C-17 aircraft or by CH-47 helicopter.
The mobile ATC tower can network with other air control and battle-management systems, and complies with Federal Aviation Administration/International Civilian Aviation Organization regulations. The tower can support civil air operations as well as military operations.
The AN/MSQ-135 MOTS will replace the Army’s aging AN/TSW-7A air traffic control tower. The MOTS system also will provide a world-wide deployable ATC capability to U.S. Army aviation, Sierra Nevada officials say.
For more information contact Sierra Nevada Corp. online at www.sncorp.com.
John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
