Airmen assigned to two space control squadrons at Peterson AFB, Colo., recently surpassed five years of continuous overseas deployments to support US military activities in Afghanistan and Iraq. The two units are the 16th SPCS and 380th SPCS. Airmen in these units execute Operation Silent Sentry, operating the rapid attack identification detection reporting system that monitors and protects the US military’s satellite communication links. RAIDRS helps detect, characterize, and locate sources of interference. “Originally intended as a 120-day proof of concept demonstration, the [RAIDRS] prototype was so successful that US Central Command retained the system indefinitely,” said Lt. Col. Paul Tombarge, 16th SPCS commander. Future deployment requirements are expected to ebb somewhat as RAIDRS Block 10, the next increment, is fielded starting later this summer. The Block 10 system allows for the remote control of RAIDRS sensors located worldwide from a central operating location at Peterson. (Peterson report by SSgt. Daniel Bava) (For background on RAIDRS, read Hold the High Ground from the Daily Report archives.)
Due to the prolonged delay in deliveries of the Tech Refresh 3 version of the F-35 fighter, Denmark is pulling six of its TR-2-configured F-35 jets stationed in the U.S. back to home base in order to consolidate aircraft and get better training for its pilots and maintainers, the Danish…