News

Radome techs ensure pilots can see

  • Published
  • By Wayne Crenshaw
  • 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  In a few small buildings tucked away in a corner near the Russell Parkway gate, some of the most high-tech and unique work done at Robins takes place.

The buildings house the 566th Electronics Maintenance Squadron's radome ranges, where radomes for the F-15, C-5, C-17 and C-130 are tested. The radome is the fiberglass nose cone which covers the radar array.

The slightest aberration in the curvature of the radome can throw off the array signal, giving the pilot false readings. Each range has a working radar array for the particular aircraft, and the radome is placed over the array. The radar signal is emitted, and through a 6-hour testing process, technicians determine whether any adjustments are needed in the radome thickness.

"The best way to describe it is we are like an eye doctor," said Charlie O'Malley, radome range supervisor. "We make it thin in some places and thick in some places. We reshape it so the pilot sees a perfect target."

They also have a separate range for the MC-130 II Combat Talon, which has a different type of radar from a standard C-130.

The radomes can be tested on outdoor ranges, but weather issues can delay the testing, and it takes about twice as long. That's because the first step is to run the array without the radome on it, so technicians can see any difference when the radome is in place.


On the outdoor range, the array-only test had to be done each time a radome was tested because weather changes could disrupt the test. Indoors, however, the array test without the radome has to be done only once per week.

Until a couple of years ago, all of the F-15 radomes were tested outdoors, but then the new, $6 million indoor range opened, significantly speeding up production.

The walls and parts of the floor are covered with distinctive coned foam to assure the radar signal is not distorted by interference from the building.

Kelcey Jones, an electronics technician, said learning how to interpret the testing data to make adjustments to the radome takes some practice.

"Every single radome is different," he said.

Sometimes a radome checks out on the first test, Jones said, but more often it takes two tests. If a spot is too thin, they add a special fiberglass tape. If it's too thick it has to go back to the Plastics Shop to have some sanding done.

The F-15 range is the busiest because F-15s go through programmed de-pot maintenance at a faster pace. O'Malley said about 22 to 24 F-15 radomes are done per month.

The radome shop has 13 employees, and all are cross trained to test radomes on different aircraft. The shop also checks the radar arrays for the B-52 and the Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night system.