Altus AFB Plays Crucial Role in HIMARS Research

  • Published
  • By 2Lt Sybil Taunton
  • 97 AMW/Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  After six separate take-offs and landings all over Northern Texas and Southern Oklahoma, Capt. Brian Nicosia, Capt. Justin Warnaar and Master Sgt. Toby Thompson, of the 58th Air Refueling Squadron, successfully aided in the testing of the Global Positioning Systems used on Lockheed Martin's High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Nov. 20.

Members of the 1/14 and 1/78 Field Artillery Battalions, the Field Artillery Marine Corps Detachment stationed at Fort Sill and personnel from Lockheed Martin loaded two HIMARS launchers into the back of a C-17 Globemaster III and connected the HIMARS launchers to GPS cables located on board the aircraft. The overall purpose of the training mission was to test the navigational data collection of the HIMARS equipment during air transport.

Representatives from Lockheed Martin requested that the pilots do tactical descents, as well as 360 degree turns, like they would in high risk deployment locations to test how well the GPS systems would track the movement of the HIMARS launchers.

Successful GPS tracking in the air will enable the Field Artillery units to unload the HIMARS launchers from the aircraft, aim and launch their rockets quicker and more accurately. The reduction in time that it takes for the HIMARS launchers to locate their GPS coordinates will ultimately protect the lives of the Army units operating the systems, as well as the aircraft crews that are responsible for transporting them.

"The affects of this training on wartime operations will provide our crews with valuable experience in securing multiple vehicles for deployment within a timely manner in order to meet quick response mission timelines," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Kavin Weaver, of the 1-38 Field Artillery at Fort Sill, Okla. "This training will allow us to train-the-trainer as we incorporate what we learned into our Sergeant's Time Training."

Training plans such as this play a crucial role in the advancement of accurate and effective wartime equipment and capabilities, and displays the importance of joint service training operations.

"Without joint training opportunities, all we can do is assume what is expected to complete the mission," Sergeant Weaver said. "By working together, we can iron out any problems in training rather than during actual combat operations."