F-14s Help Ground Forces View Their Surroundings

Aero-News has learned the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) proved quick to answer the fleet’s request to install technology on F-14 Tomcats that gives boots on the ground an eye in the sky.

In early November, aviators serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom requested their Tomcats have the technology to download data to Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receivers (ROVER) - laptop computers that give troops the ability to view their surroundings from the aircraft’s point of view.

"When an air crew establishes radio contact with troops on the ground, the first question they are asked is 'are you ROVER download-capable?' That shows how important it is to them," said Lt. Cmdr. Lee "Griz" Grubbs, class desk for NAVAIR’s F-14 program (PMA 241), Patuxent River Naval Air Station, MD.

The F-14 program responded to the fleet request with an unprecedented push from requirement to real-world capability. The program had an obvious mandate to equip the aircraft early enough to make a difference on this last Tomcat deployment. Grubbs eyed another looming deadline he wanted to precede –- Iraq's December 15 elections to determine the government’s president and prime minister.

In six weeks -- a blink of an eye on the acquisition and development time scale -- the program moved from paper to installing the data transfer systems on Tomcats, even allowing several days for pilots to train with the technology before election day. The systems arrived on the carrier December 10. The first ROVER download-equipped flight took place the next day.

"The team demonstrated NAVAIR’s capability at its best," said Grubbs. "We probably made a significant difference in theater. We may have had a direct impact on the overall peace that existed during the Iraqi elections."

The program lassoed help from several organizations to complete multiple tasks in parallel, which significantly hastened results. Randy Snyder led a team at Jacksonville conducting the engineering study. The Tomcat program at Patuxent River Naval Air Station pursued regulatory approvals such as a flight clearance and approval for an interim airframe change.

The program has now equipped 22 Tomcats, with additional systems to spare. The upgrades to the Tomcat squadrons more than doubles the number of aircraft flying Operation Iraqi Freedom missions with the capability to download to ROVER.

"I saw tremendous teamwork and a sense that what they were doing would make a difference for the warfighter," said F-14 Program Manager Chris Frayser. "Everyone contributed, and everything happened just right. It was not about getting a pat on the back, or about the money, it was about taking pride. It was awesome!"

"This success is part of our team’s continuing contribution to the Navywide goal of delivering the right force, with the right readiness, and at the right cost," said Rear Adm. David Venlet, program executive officer for Tactical Aircraft Programs. Venlet oversees the efforts of PMA 241. "You’ll see much more of this as the Naval Aviation Enterprise continues to streamline development and procurement of the systems we send forward to our fleet warfighters."

The Naval Aviation Enterprise is a partnership among naval leadership to optimize processes that maintain current readiness while investing in future readiness.
The enterprise concept focuses naval aviation on the single fleet-driven metric of producing aircraft ready for tasking at reduced cost.

(Aero-News salutes Chuck Wagner, PEO(T) Public Affairs)

FMI: www.news.navy.mil/local/navair/