MAFB getting radar system upgrade Published Sept. 21, 2009 By Airman 1st Class Artemy Shpakovsky Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Construction of a new digital airport surveillance radar system began here June 15, and will upgrade the base's old radar system to the newest digital technology available. "This is part of a Department of Defense and Federal Administration Association's initiative to upgrade the National Airspace System to capitalize on modern technology and accommodate the rapid growth in the amount of air traffic nationwide," said Capt. Stephen D. Baker, 5th Operation Support Squadron airfield operations flight commander. The objective is to replace the remaining analog systems not only on Minot AFB; but also the project began with the replacement of all current analog systems with new and more advanced systems on several military and civilian airports nationally. "The current airport surveillance radar at Minot, a GPN-12, was first fielded in 1975; we are one of two bases that still operates with this antiquated system," Captain Baker said. The new system is expected to be able to track more than 1,000 objects at the same time. It will also be able to identify local weather anomalies and even track flocks of birds. "It's the newest available technology and it uses less power, requires less maintenance and manpower, and costs significantly less to operate than other systems currently in use, " said Captain Baker. " It provides greater target capability, improved accuracy, fewer false targets and has a lower lifecycle cost." Additionally, the DASR system detects aircraft position and weather conditions in the vicinity of the airfield; it will improve reliability, provide additional weather data, reduce maintenance cost, improve performance and provide digital data to new digital automation systems for presentation on air traffic controller displays. It displays primary radar out to 60 miles and secondary radar out to 120 miles. "It's a $4.9 million contract which should take about 15 months to build from bottom to top," said Marcus L. Hederic, site's construction agent. The physical part of construction is scheduled to be completed by December of this year. However, this will not result in immediate completion of the project - the radar system will undergo a thorough testing before it will be considered serviceable. "The system is scheduled to be fully operational in September of 2010," Captain Baker said. Although the radar is physically located here, it will be providing the air traffic information not only to Minot's local airports but to Ellsworth AFB, S.D. too. "In August of 2008, our radar facility combined with the radar facility at Ellsworth AFB and since that time, our air traffic radar services have been provided by Ellsworth," said Captain Baker. "The controllers at Ellsworth will be able to take advantage of the increased capabilities." Data from this system will be sent to Ellsworth AFB where the air traffic controllers are operating from. They will then divide and arrange all civilian and military traffic within 60 miles on land and more than 23,000 feet from the surface. "The future radar system will be maintained by the radar maintenance personnel of the 5th Communications Squadron," said Captain Baker. This system is going to be a major upgrade not only to Minot AFB, but to Minot International Airport and 11 other smaller surrounding airports and to any traffic, both military and civilian, that will pass through the vicinity of Minot's airspace. For more information, contact 723-2605.