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$24 million contract could bring more ‘traffic’ to Tinker

  • Published
  • By John Stuart
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  A recent contract could see as many as three new deployable tactical air navigation systems at Tinker in the coming months.

An estimated $24 million contract was recently awarded to Science Applications International Corporation, to potentially deliver up to 19 new D-TACAN systems to bases throughout the United States. At Tinker, the new TACANs would be sustained by the Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems program, upgrading their current systems with state-of-the art units.

In September, SAIC will deliver a unit to Tinker's 558th ATCALS Sustainment Group for testing. After a short test-phase, the Air Force has the option of purchasing more units but has no obligation to do so under the contract terms, said David Hancock, a contracting officer on the project.

"Essentially what we're doing is a replacement of those older systems which brings us up to date with modern technology," Mr. Hancock said.

The TACANs are mobile and designed for deployment situations. At about 30 feet long, a transportable height of eight feet and weight of nine tons, the units rest on a trailer for mobilization to the field. Personnel from the 3rd Combat Communications Group would deploy the units while the 558th would provide sustainment needs, Hancock said.

A major new feature is that the units can perform automatic remote maintenance and diagnostic screens. If a problem arises, the TACAN performs self-checks to report any problems back to a maintenance depot thousands of miles away.

"It offers a remote maintenance and monitoring system worldwide," Mr. Hancock said. "If something goes wrong they can troubleshoot it and they don't actually need a person on site."

SAIC -- long-time Air Force contracting company -- was already producing the TACAN system prior to the Air Force bid. SAIC could deliver up to two units per month if the Air Force decides to purchase them. One other company was competing with SAIC for the bid.