[Techtaffy Newsdesk]

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has been awarded a $56 million contract by the United States Army to manufacture SNC’s Mobile Tower System (MOTS). The contract will include the production of ten Mobile Tower Systems (MOTS), as well as engineering and logistics services.

The MOTS is a rapidly deployable Air Traffic Control (ATC) system with all necessary secure and non-secure communications radios and support equipment. The modular MOTS includes an ATC Tower with organic 36kW power generators, a medium intensity solar powered airfield runway lighting system, and meteorological sensors. MOTS is capable of being airlifted by C-17 aircraft or CH47 helicopter and supports military ATC operations by networking with other Air Traffic Service (ATS) and Battle Command (BC) systems. The MOTS complies with Federal Aviation Administration/International Civilian Aviation Organization regulations, and is also equally adept in supporting civilian applications, including disaster relief efforts, forest fire mobile operations, and temporary tower operations anywhere in the world, with minimal logistical requirements.

The new AN/MSQ-135 MOTS will replace the Army’s aging AN/TSW-7A air traffic control tower.  It will also provide a world-wide deployable ATC capability to U.S. Army Aviation. Work will support more than 400 jobs in the U.S.