Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Airman Thomas Trower
With the Air Force taking on a new mission in cyberspace, its equipment is keeping up with it. Air Force F-16 block 50s are taking on new abilities to help create a more joint task force environment.
The 522nd Fighter Squadron received its fourth jet back from Hill Air Force Base, Utah on Dec. 9. This is where the jets’ avionics are being upgraded with the new Common Configuration Implementation Program (CCIP).
CCIP incorporates two items into the cockpit of F-16: a Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) and data-link capability through Link 16. Both items help increase pilot situational awareness, said Lt. Col. Tod Fingal, commander of the 522 FS.
A projection inside the helmet allows the pilots to more accurately control their weapon systems. It increases combat capability tenfold, said the colonel. When the pilots turn their heads, the radar follows the movement.
“It adds a lot to my situational awareness,” said Capt. Scott Crabtree, 522 FS pilot. Capt. Crabtree brought the fourth jet back to Cannon. “The precision is incredible.”
The Link 16 system allows the jet to be tied into a digital network on the battlefield. This system is used by all U.S. military services and allows Air Force pilots to locate and pinpoint all players on the battlefield, said Col. Fingal.
The system designates what items are “friendly” and what are “enemy.”
“A pilot, for example, can designate what tank he wants to find and then look for it on the ground,” said Col. Fingal. “The system will highlight the tank by placing a symbol over it in the JHMCS. It gives us the opportunity to quickly gain awareness of all players whether they are friend or foe.”
The 522 FS and 522 Aircraft Maintenance Unit have been preparing for this upgrade for quite sometime now, said Col. Fingal. Because the upgrade training is standard across the Air Force, the squadron has sent pilots and maintainers to train at other bases that are already operating these aircraft to take advantage of their experience and e
“The training is Air Force standard,” said Capt. Crabtree. “All of the information is new and good to know. It is definitely worthwhile to have the training already finished.”
This will help them be the quickest fighter squadron to return to combat mission ready status following a major aircraft modification, Col. Fingal said. During the next few months the squadron will be folding their new skills into tactics and should be back to their full operational capability in less than three months.
According to Col. Fingal, these upgrades are a great force enhancer and will increase the Air Force’s lethality in battle. The final jet is scheduled to return to Cannon in April.
