Ground combatants now call air support by phone

Blackanthem Military News, SOUTHWEST ASIA, April 22, 2006 13:22

Ground units in combat are now able to call for close-air support using the equivalent of a cellular phone that connects with a pod on fighter aircraft.

The new Fighter Aircraft Communication Enhancement pod, fielded for the first time in late 2004, is a solution to communication problems often experienced by aircraft in the mountainous regions of Afghanistan.

Now used effectively in several theaters, the FACE pod allows ground units to communicate with aircraft ready to provide close air support through the Air Support Operations Center at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.

"Aircraft communications are primarily line-of-sight," said Col. Gregory Touhill, director of communications at the Combined Air Operations Center here. "The mountains in Afghanistan were creating communication issues for our A-10 aircraft in that region; this technology is a solution to that problem."

The pod enables ground units to relay their coordinates to patrolling aircraft, allowing them to engage the enemy as needed.

"Our engineers hollowed out a jamming pod, put two iridium satellite-based telephones in it, and interfaced that with the aircraft’s radio," said Colonel Touhill. "Now, any aircraft that can carry a pod can use this technology with little or no modification, and it’s highly effective."

As a U.S. Central Command Air Forces initiative, the FACE pod was developed in cooperation with the Air Armament Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

"It’s important that we keep finding innovative ways to solve operational problems," said Colonel Touhill. "The FACE pod is another example of how we are leveraging technology to support the warfighter."

By Staff Sgt. Melissa Koskovich
U.S. Central Command Air Forces-Forward Public Affairs

ADDITIONAL PHOTO:

An A-10 Thunderbolt II carries a Fighter Aircraft Communication Enhancement pod. Fielded for the first time in late 2004, the FACE pod is a solution to communication problems often experienced by aircraft in the mountainous regions of Afghanistan. (Courtesy Photo)