RAF Lakenheath communications get an upgrade

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kristopher Levasseur
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The 48th Communications Squadron radio systems shop is undergoing a system upgrade, which will increase the network availability for all network users.

The $13 million upgrade, which is a Department of Defense initiative, will switch all land mobile radios from an analog system to a completely digital system.

"Under the new configuration, radio communications will have improved quality with clearer transmissions over longer distances," said Master Sgt. Iris Higgins, 48th CS NCO in-charge of radio systems.

The radios will be taken from the units in phases and programmed to operate on the new system. Units which still have old XTS 3000 model radios will receive new XTS 5000 model radios.

"We will start by upgrading and reprogramming vehicle radios, move to handhelds and finally complete base stations," said Sergeant Higgins. "The wing will cutover all LMRs to the new system in March."

"The new system is also based on new computer operating systems. This provides us with a much easier way to maintain the system," said Airman 1st Class Clinton Rowland, 48th CS radio systems technician. "Instead of us using UNIX we are using Windows XP."

In an effort to familiarize themselves with the new system, members from the radio systems shop have traveled worldwide to train on the new system.

"I have seen a similar system in use at Ramstein Air Base, Germany and I have been to the Motorola plant in Chicago to see our system in testing. It seems to be years ahead of our current system from a maintainer's point of view," said Airman Rowland. "For the user, it will seem almost transparent."

Communication is paramount in completing the mission on any military installation and due to the hard work and dedication of the radio systems shop; RAF Lakenheath will be able to get the job done.