$8.3M to Support 37 Mobile Microwave Landing Systems
Textron Systems Corp., Wilmington, MA is being awarded an $8,296,838 firm fixed price, time and material and cost contract to provide for the annual service agreement to perform depot level logistics support for 37 AN/TRN-45 Mobile Microwave Landing Systems (MMLS) and MMLS users. The system has seen heavy use in the global war on terror, including Iraq and the even less clement climes of Afghanistan…
Microwave landing systems provide all the functionality of instrument landing systems, or ILS, with more precision and capability, and they are better able to support tactical deployments.
The MMLS is a portable, ground based, microwave transmitter that provides a mobile, precision approach and landing capability for MLS equipped aircraft operating in inclement weather and hostile environments. It provides a 15 nautical mile range for usable guidance signals for glide paths and landing approaches from 2.5 to 12.5 degrees elevation and courses of +40 degrees azimuth. The MMLS equipment is modular and lightweight, yet rugged enough to withstand operations in forward battle areas.
At present, the cargo-carrying C-17 Globemaster IIIs and C-130 Hercules are the only Air Force planes with the receivers needed to use this system on board.
the march…
As The Hansconian noted, TRN-45’s compactness provides another significant advantage for tactical operations. “It only takes about 30 minutes to an hour for the trailerized version,” according to 2nd Lt. Troy LeFever, the deputy program manger. “The other version can be set up in three hours or less.”
“The system can be loaded on one pallet,” said Paul Donoghue of ARINC Inc., a program office support contractor who serves as item manager for the system. “It’s also relatively easy to assemble, allowing operators to set it up very quickly. A couple of systems were loaded onto trailers prior to deployment, making set-up in theater even easier.”
Under this contract, Textron will provide telephonic help desk and on site technological support, repair failed MMLS systems and components, manage a government inventory of spare parts, and transport spare parts and repaired MMLS to government locations throughout the world.
Those last aspects are somewhat unusual; the Global Air Traffic Operations/Mobility Command and Control System Program Office, in concert with prime contractor Textron Systems Inc., effectively serves as the supply depot. When maintainers need spare parts, they come directly to the program office.
“Maintainers love us,” said Mr. Donoghue. “We’re more responsive than a depot generally is, because we have a very streamlined process… We handle failures, conduct trend analyses and make recommendations based on those analyses… We always tell the user: if you ever have a problem, just come to us.” Because the program office manages development, production and sustainment of the system, it is usually able to resolve problems quickly.
Solicitation began June 2005, negotiations were completed August 2005, work will be complete by August 2010. The Headquarters Electronic Systems Center in Hanscom Air Force Base, MA issued the contract (FA8730-05-C-0002).
