KEESLER AFB, Miss. - For the Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (the 'Hurricane Hunters') stationed at Keesler, the ability to transmit data in flight is tantamount to mission success. As one of their (10) WC-130J Super Hercules powers through a hurricane, a loadmaster prepares and launches dropsondes to collect atmospheric data. An aerial reconnaissance weather officer sits nearby for quality checked figures from the dropsonde, and stepped frequency microwave radiometer attached to the wing. It's all for gathering operational information for weather forecasting at the National Hurricane Center in Florida. All 10 aircraft are equipped with satellite communications capabilities. Recently, some new technology was being tested by Ed Bodony, Center Test Authority (CTA) test director at Robins AFB, Ga., and 1st Lt. Makiah Eustice, flight engineer at CTA. They travel to south Mississippi to test the protocol C-130 X-Band Multi-Purpose Hatch System Solution (SATCOM) satellite communications that will allow those on the ground to see high-definition video of radar footage from flights as they enter a storm. The new SATCOM system will allow data to be seen continuously, including sending video of radar imagery to people on the ground. The 2-day process "went well," said Bodony, and was to qualify and confirm the equipment works. Next is operational testing. A different crew of engineers will come test its capabilities in a real storm environment. (Source: Keesler AFB 10/30/21) Hurricane Hunters testing new SATCOM capabilities > Air Force > Article Display (af.mil)
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