Officials at the Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base are working with Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. to provide the Air Force with a deployable precision approach landing capability to support contingency operations or humanitarian missions across the globe.
The Deployable Instrument Landing System (D-ILS) will provide guidance to aircraft on final approach during low visibility, or low ceiling weather conditions. The D-ILS will have the ability to convert a bare forward-operating base into a precision-approach-capable operating airfield, can augment an existing airfield, or be used at damaged airfields for conducting humanitarian operations.
While fixed-based instrument landing systems are a time-tested solution, they are large structures that need to be transported on multiple aircraft and require installation of concrete, electronics, and cabling. The new system can be transported on one C-130 Hercules and set up in 120 man-hours, which equates to two people completing the task in about a week.
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