NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- The Expeditionary Airfield (EAF) team at Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst, N.J., recently upgraded field equipment for Marines stationed overseas.

The EAF is a shore-based, aviation support system that permits deployment of landing force aircraft within range of ground forces.

Although an EAF can be as basic as a grass landing zone that supports helicopter operations, the installation of one or more EAF subsystems adds versatility and/or durability to the landing site. Current EAF upgrades allow Marines to set up an EAF site quicker. They also allow more efficient communications between Marines and air traffic control sites as well as the ability to store field and landing equipment.

“These lightweight, versatile upgrades will go a long way in giving our troops the edge in the field,” said Capt. Randy Mahr, program manager for the Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment (ALRE) program (PMA-251) here. “The EAF team gives the troops in the field the advantage of being able to quickly set up and land just about anywhere.”

Among upgrades the Marines have received are handheld VIPIR lights. These portable lights can be used at tactical field landing zones and fit in a specialized Marine backpack, which can hold up to 30 lights and all tools necessary for installation on any terrain.

The lights are also explosion-proof and are battery operated. VIPIR lights are remote control, night vision goggle compatible, include a flashing mode and are equipped with different color lenses to support different scenarios.

Another upgrade to the Marine field arsenal is Extreme Lightweight Matting (ELM). Also know as the Heli-Mat, the ELM is a helicopter-only surface system, which can be installed in minutes. This matting permits rotary aircraft to land in desert areas without having the helicopter engines ingest sand and other loose particles. This results in a reduction of brownout conditions that hamper control of flight and damage to engines. ELM also permits helicopters to operate closer to the battlefront, so they can conduct missions from forward-operating bases.

“The ELM is a cost-reduction item that expands the playing field for our troops,” said Mahr. “Our helicopters can now go into desert environments without having to worry about the damage they would incur without this specialty matting.”

In efforts to improve communication between the Marines on the ground and the air traffic control units, ALRE and the Aviation Support Equipment Program teamed up to purchase and field new XTS-5000 Motorola radios. The package is all encompassing with a portable base station, 10 handheld radios, battery chargers, spare batteries, spare antennas, headsets and speaker mikes.

“This upgrade will allow seamless communication between the professional in Air Traffic Control and the Marines manning the airfield,” said Paul Reiff, EAF team lead at Lakehurst. “When you operate in remote, harsh environments with complex military technology, it is imperative these lines of communication stay open.”

ALRE also procured and deployed field shelters with the Marines to meet the need for climate controlled storage and administrative space in extreme environments.

The 30 medium shelter systems developed by California Association Medical Staff Services provide more than 1,500 sq. ft. of floor space, is highly portable and is used to conduct maintenance on equipment such as the M-31 Arresting Gear. Also known as the “California” shelter, it can be constructed in less than four hours in nearly any environment.

Developed by Alaska Structures, the “Alaska” small shelter system can be configured into multiple complexes, with each individual shelter designed to be assembled end-to-end with a standard connector flap, or side-to-side using optional side entries and vestibules. Marines use these shelters to conduct maintenance on small equipment and administrative duties.

“These shelters are rugged, durable and provide our Marines with a spacious and comfortable environment to perform their daily administrative and maintenance duties,” said Reiff.

The ALRE program manages the development, demonstration and acquisition of operational advances in aviation data management and control systems, expeditionary airfields and all launch- and recovery- related products.

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Cutline: Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander, U.S. Central Command, touch down on the Expeditionary Airfield’s extreme lightweight matting last fall in Iraq. U.S. Navy photo.