Osan radar gets a second chance in USAFRICOM

Airmen and civilians from the 51st Operations Support Squadron and the 51st Logistics Readiness Squadron dismantle and load a GPN-20 airfield surveillance radar onto a truck bed on Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea Sept. 15, 2015. The teams worked together to send the radar to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, to support the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa mission under U.S. Africa Command. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kristin High)

Osan radar gets a second chance in USAFRICOM

Airmen from the 51st Operations Support Squadron and the 51st Logistics Readiness Squadron watch as part of a GPN-20 airfield surveillance radar is lowered onto a truck bed on Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Sept. 15, 2015. The radar will be dismantled and shipped to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, to support the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa mission under U.S. Africa Command. By repurposing the older radar, the Department of Defense is saving $2 million. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kristin High)

Osan radar gets a second chance in USAFRICOM

Published Sept. 28, 2015
By Senior Airman Kristin High
51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Airmen and civilians from the 51st Operations Support Squadron and the 51st Logistics Readiness Squadron teamed up to deconstruct and pack a GPN-20 airfield surveillance radar here, Sept. 15, 2015.

"The radar was decommissioned a few years back after we upgraded our current systems," said Tech. Sgt. James Hammond, 51st OSS NCO in-charge of ground radar maintenance. "After a month-long inspection of systems, heating, ventilation, air condition, and refrigeration quality and wiring, it's ready to travel across the globe."

The radar will be travelling to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, to support the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa mission under the U.S. Africa Command.

"By sending the radar to support the Camp Lemonnier mission, the Department of Defense is saving more than $2 million," said Senior Airman Zachary Burket, 51st OSS ground radar maintenance technician. "At the location it's going to, they were using a mobile radar which made it difficult to support the mission."

Airmen form the 51st OSS and 51st LRS worked together to dismantle the 13,000 pound radar and prepare it for shipment.

"The Airmen from LRS really helped us complete the mission in moving the radar parts to be shipped," said Hammond. "From vehicle maintenance to the technical management office there was a lot of teamwork in organizing this move."

Radars are typically used air traffic controllers to monitor and control the airspace around military and civilian airports to verify where aircraft are so they can safely guide and land them.

Along with guiding aircraft to land, radar is also used to prevent accidents for flyover aircraft such as those on the course to Incheon International Airport and other surrounding areas.

On any given day, the ATCs here help to guide more than 200 aircraft, said Hammond.

"It's a great feeling knowing that we are repurposing these great assets to be reused," he continued. "Something we consider so small here on Osan, is going to the mission on a different part of the world."