Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) recently said it delivered the first Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Mobile Tower System (MOTS) to the Army ahead of schedule.
The LRIP contract was awarded in March 2012 for 10 MOTS. An early development MOTS has been deployed with the 3rd Infantry Division in Afghanistan since November 2012.
The MOTS is a rapidly deployable Air Traffic Control (ATC) system with secure and non-secure communications radios and support equipment, the company said in a statement. The modular MOTS includes an ATC Tower with organic 18kW power generators, a medium intensity solar powered airfield runway lighting system, and meteorological sensors.
Greg Cox, corporate vice president of SNC’s Communication, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management business area, said, “Today’s delivery of the first production of the MOTS demonstrates the valued relationship we have with the U.S. Army. SNC takes great pride in assisting our nation’s service men and women in the line of duty.”
Col. Jerry Davis, Army project manager, Aviation Systems, said: “This first production delivery from SNC marks a major milestone for the MOTS program. Once fielded, MOTS will enable improved maintainability along with a higher operational readiness for our air traffic controllers supporting aircraft movement at airfields around the world.” Davis attended the March 14 ceremony marking the first delivery.
The new AN/MSQ-135 MOTS will replace the Army’s aging AN/TSW-7A air traffic control tower. The MOTS system will also provide a world-wide deployable ATC capability to U.S. Army aviation.