Frequentis deployable digital tower: Frequentis Defense, in collaboration with the US Air Force Flight Standards Agency and the Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic, has achieved a significant milestone with the successful completion of an early operational assessment.
This achievement marks a pivotal moment in the development of a groundbreaking program, characterized by three fixed and deployable system trials conducted across strategic locations in Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
Notably, these trials were conducted seamlessly during real-time operations, setting a precedent as a first-of-its-kind initiative. The collaboration’s ability to navigate and excel in these diverse operational environments underscores the robustness and adaptability of the tested systems, promising a new era of technological advancements in defense and aviation.
FREQUENTIS and US DoD enhance operator safety and situational awareness with deployable digital tower
The trials of Frequentis Defense’s fixed and deployable digital tower for the United States Department of Defense (DoD) have been successfully concluded. Collaborating closely, the teams from Frequentis Defense Inc. (FDI), the US Air Force Flight Standards Agency, and the Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic worked harmoniously to execute three trials of the Frequentis Digital Tower at different Air Force and Naval Air Bases. This collaborative effort aimed to substantiate the operational feasibility and advantages of the system for military personnel, demonstrating its efficacy in enhancing operational capabilities across various defense settings.
“We think the future is bright for the remote digital tower. We continue to do assessments of this technology; we continue to be impressed with it. We do believe it has benefits, particularly where we don’t have to put the controllers in the tower, keeping them out of harm’s way,” noted Ed Wright, Executive Director, Headquarters US Air Force Flight Standards Agency, US DoD.
The deployable digital tower is configured within a military container environment, featuring a limited number of controller working positions. Its unique design allows for rapid remote deployment with minimal disruption to operations, contributing to heightened crew safety, improved situational awareness, and enhanced capabilities for training and meeting various mission requirements in air traffic control.
The control room can be centralized, facilitating the co-location of staff working on different scenarios. Leveraging digital solutions, the system integrates data from sensors, cameras, and radar to offer a comprehensive 360-degree panoramic view, encompassing standard and thermal imaging across all weather conditions. This advanced technology replaces outdated binoculars with cameras, significantly improving airspace and airfield visibility and, consequently, enhancing situational awareness for air traffic controllers. Furthermore, the digital information provided to controllers is recorded for reference and training purposes.
“Our partnership with the US DoD and the success of our trials in real-time operations ensures that Frequentis continues to pave the way in Defense with our deployable digital tower solution,” states Jay Balakirsky, President Frequentis Defense. “We are incredibly proud of our team for completing this first-of-a-kind program. Digital Tower technology is changing the way that air traffic is controlled and will improve the safety, efficiency, and capability of air operations.”
Collaboratively, the Frequentis Defense Inc. (FDI) team, along with the US Air Force Flight Standards Agency and the Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic, successfully executed three trials for the Frequentis Digital Tower. The initial operational assessments took place in a fixed tower configuration at an Air Force Base, followed by an expeditionary deployment at a second Air Force Base. The third trial unfolded at a Naval Air Station, employing the digital tower to oversee airfield operations at a distant location.
