21st OWS equipment 'forecast' saved millions

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael Voss
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  As the Sembach Annex realignment plan pushes forward allowing the U.S. Army control of the former U.S. Air Force base, members of the 21st Operational Weather Squadron are making smart resource choices to save taxpayer dollars in unnecessary equipment moves.

As one of the last Air Force assets left on Sembach, 21st OWS leaders are working hard to ensure the scheduled 2011 move to Kapaun Air Station, Germany is completed as efficiently as possible.

Project managers from the 21st OWS hosted leaders from U.S. Air Forces in Europe, the 86th Civil Engineer Squadron, 86th Communications Squadron, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during a ribbon cutting for the new MARK IVB Meteorological Data System at Kapaun Air Station, Nov. 5.

The MARK IVB is an Air Force meteorological satellite system comprised of a set of three weather satellites (a 10-foot polar tracking antenna, a 17-foot geostationary antenna and radome and a EUMETCAST direct video broadcast antenna) that receive data from polar orbiting and geostationary meteorological satellite managed by the U.S. Department of Commerce and Department of Defense.

In layman terms, the $2.5 million system enables the 21st OWS to provide real-time satellite imagery, supporting pilots and combatant commanders throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Although the 21st OWS had some of the equipment for the MARK IVB operating at Sembach prior to the Nov. 5 ceremony, leadership found themselves faced with a challenge of either upgrading the equipment at its current location and paying to install and move the system twice within two years, or pay for a one-time move and install.

The ribbon cutting marked the end of three years of planning, coordination and construction.

"We knew we needed to upgrade the system, the new system takes us from a L to X band which allows a much larger data flow," said Buzz Kandler, MARK IVB installations manager. "It was absolutely a financial decision and a responsible one at that."

Mr. Kandler went on to explain that by setting up the system at the squadron's future home saved the Air Force more than half-a-million dollars, as it would cost $250,000 to set it up at Sembach, then $250,000 more to move it to Kapaun 12 to 14 months later.

The actual physical process of moving the system and setting up the new antenna was a seven-week task involving the support of contractors from Lockheed Martin's Integrated Systems and Global Services.

"This type of forward thinking only makes sense," said Scott Gibbins, 21st OWS Technical Services director. "When the squadron moves here in late 2011, we will be collocated with the equipment."

Until that time, weather technicians will still be able to use the MARK IVB system to assist Airmen worldwide.