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Team Shaw tests agile equipment

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Destani K. Matheny
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE S.C. --  The 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron is serving as a test bed for new aerospace ground equipment to create a more agile force.

Airmen assigned to the 20th EMS aerospace ground equipment flight looked for ways to reduce their equipment footprint while maintaining readiness.

Avionics Airmen need to regularly test aircraft flight systems and currently use two pieces of equipment to power the aircraft and cool down components to prevent overheating. A single modern generator meets both of these requirements.

“With potentially using this new equipment, we would be able to accomplish the mission faster and easier,” said Master Sgt. Matthew Easterling, 20th EMS AGE flight chief. “We would also align ourselves more with our commander’s priorities and with the Agile Combat Employment concept.”

For the mission downrange, Airmen must bring all equipment needed in order to generate sorties from home station, therefore only needing to transport one generator instead of the two current pieces, would save transportation time, space and weight on the plane.

“We’ve already seen interest from other bases for using updated AGE,” said Timmy Dillard, Air Force Engineering and Technical Service technician. “This equipment is easier to maintain and more user friendly.

ACE Airmen are using solutions to modernize the force through technological advancements, helping the Air Force to build and sustain combat operations in dynamic and deployed environments.

“We want to enable our Airmen to operate as effectively as possible in any environment,” said Easterling. “We look forward to seeing how the new equipment performs and how our Airmen can utilize it in the future.”