US Army takes delivery of first LRIP MOTS

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has announced the delivery of the first Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Mobile Tower System (MOTS) to the US Army. This is the first of 10 MOTS to be delivered under an LRIP contract awarded in March 2012; 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 new AN/MSQ-135 MOTS will replace the army’s aging AN/TSW-7A ATC tower, and will provide a world-wide deployable ATC capability to US Army Aviation.

The modular MOTS includes an ATC Tower with organic 18kW power generators, a medium intensity solar powered airfield runway lighting system, and meteorological sensors.

The system 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 FAA/International Civilian Aviation Organization regulations, and can also support civilian applications, including disaster relief efforts, forest fire mobile operations, and temporary tower operations anywhere in the world, with minimal logistical requirements.

COL Jerry Davis, army project manager, Aviation Systems, said: ‘This first production delivery from SNC marks a major milestone for the MOTS programme.  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.’

Greg Cox, corporate vice president of SNC’s Communication, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management business area, said: ‘SNC strives to meet our customers’ needs at every level. Today’s delivery of the first production of the MOTS demonstrates the valued relationship we have with the US Army.  SNC takes great pride in assisting our nation’s service men and women in the line of duty.’