Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) delivered the first low rate initial production (LRIP) Mobile Tower System (MOTS) to the United States 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.
“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,” said COL Jerry Davis, Army project manager, Aviation Systems. COL Davis attended a ceremony marking the first delivery, March 14, 2013 at SNC’s facility in Sparks, Nev.
“SNC strives to meet our customers’ needs at every level,” said Greg Cox, corporate vice president of SNC’s Communication, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management business area. “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.”
The MOTS is a rapidly deployable Air Traffic Control (ATC) system with secure and non-secure communications radios and support equipment. The modular MOTS includes an ATC Tower with organic 18kW power generators, a medium intensity solar powered airfield runway lighting system, and meteorological sensors.
MOTS is capable of being airlifted by C-17 aircraft or by CH-47 helicopter and supports military ATC operations by networking with other Air Traffic Service (ATS) and Battle Command (BC) systems. The MOTS complies with Federal Aviation Administration/International Civilian Aviation Organization regulations, and is also equally adept in supporting civilian applications, including disaster relief efforts, forest fire mobile operations, and temporary tower operations anywhere in the world, with minimal logistical requirements.
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.