KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --
The 18th Operations Support Squadron made history during one of Kadena’s most important projects of 2021. Airmen from the 18th OSS Radar, Airfield and Weather Systems upgraded their Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range and Tactical Air Navigation Systems beacon at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Oct. 15, 2021.
The VORTAC consists of two sectors in a centralized hub that provides navigational aid to aircraft. One sector is for civilian aircraft, known as the VOR, and a second sector for military aircraft, known as TACAN.
The hub provides information to the aircraft that ensures safe navigation and precise landing, which in turn keeps the mission running smoothly.
“It is really important because we have fighter jets here,” said Staff Sgt. Whitney LaVire, 18th OSS RAWS supervisor. “Fighter jets need the TACAN to navigate.”
In 2015, the Air Force mandated an upgrade to all VORTAC systems across the Air Force. Over time, the older equipment has become less reliable and more prone to issues, whereas the newer equipment provides better performance.
“The old TACAN system is not very reliable, and since the Air Force was replacing it, they no longer supply the necessary parts,” LaVire said. “So, if something breaks, there’s no guarantee we can fix it.”
During the upgrade, the internal components of the VORTAC were all replaced along with the antenna on top. Usually, this would interrupt flying operations, but with the help of Marine Air Control Squadron 4, a mobile TACAN was set up to provide navigational aid while the U.S. Navy also contributed by providing a crane and Sailors from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5.
“The RAWS team here at Kadena were able to talk to the Marines from Futenma MACS-4 and see if they could provide a mobile system that would provide coverage for the lapse between the old and new system,” said 1st Lt. Veniece Gomez, 18th OSS airfield operations officer. “That provided coverage for all our mission operations that we do here at Kadena with the fighter aircraft.
This was a historical moment for the military, as this was the first time the mobile AN/TRN-47(V)2 TACAN technology was used in Japan.
“It's a new system throughout all of the DoD, so before our project came, they didn't even have authorization to use it in Japan,” said LaVire. “We worked with the [Japan Air Self-Defense Force] and the [Pacific Air Forces] to get that system approved in Japan, and then they were able to deploy it for the first time ever.”
Senior Master Sgt. Albert Foley, 18th OSS RAWS Superintendent credited the Marines being an essential part of the project, providing instrumental support to Kadena’s mission.
“There were a lot of uncertainties with this project,” he said. “So having that TACAN piece here with the Marines really helped propel this project forward.”
The collective efforts of all units involved allowed Kadena Air Base, the keystone of the Pacific, to continue supporting the Air Force mission without delay.