The 752nd Operations Support Squadron used the weapons system during a live mission after training to operate the technology. The 752nd OSS received the AN/TYQ-23A Tactical Air Operations Module weapons system in September 2019 after beginning the acquisition process in the summer of 2015.
The ground-based weapons system allows squadron members at Tinker AFB to provide command and control to both live and simulated aircraft from around the country. Only 18 of these weapons systems exist in Air Force inventory and Tinker AFB is now one of only four active-duty bases to have this equipment.
CRC systems integration technical advisor at the 752ND OSS, Brian Zbydnkiewski, said: “The fact that we are now able to run missions shows how we, the Control and Reporting Center community, continue to adapt and overcome to achieve mission success.”
“We took an old and outdated building and turned it into a state-of-the-art control facility where we can control missions using radios, radars and data links from all over the United States.”
The mission began with connectivity and correlation checks to ensure the weapon system from Tinker AFB could connect to the needed databases. Once connected, the 752nd OSS was able to monitor an aerial refueling of an F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 77th FS.
With the new ground-based command and control weapons system, the 752nd OSS plans to conduct two simulated missions per week with two live missions per month. The new system allows the squadron to coordinate with flying squadrons across the country, to include the E-3 Sentry, or AWACS, at Tinker AFB.
To prepare for the weapons system, the 752nd OSS had to attend weeks of training on how to operate the equipment. The squadron also added 10 maintenance personnel and underwent extensive renovations to support the necessary equipment and technology.
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