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One-of-a-kind radio tower will double HCIC range

By Justin Oakes, 66 Air Base Group Public Affairs / Published December 17, 2015

Airmen inspect the new 120-foot radio tower attached to the Hanscom Collaboration and Innovation Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., Dec. 17, 2015. The $3.1 million project is part of a facility upgrade geared at doubling communication range and fostering new partnerships with federal, state, academic and industry organizations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Justin Oakes)
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Airmen inspect the new 120-foot radio tower attached to the Hanscom Collaboration and Innovation Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., Dec. 17, 2015. The $3.1 million project is part of a facility upgrade geared at doubling communication range and fostering new partnerships with federal, state, academic and industry organizations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Justin Oakes)

U.S. Air Force Maj. Jonathan Stueckle, left, Cyber Sustainment Branch chief engineer, Steve O'Neil, center, HCIC facility manager, and 2nd Lt. David Beberwyk, a base Civil Engineer project manager, stand on the walkway of the new Hanscom Collaboration and Innovation Center radio tower at Hanscom AFB, Mass., Dec. 17, 2015. The tower stands 120 feet tall and is made of composite material designed to reduce cost over the lifecycle of the structure. (U.S. Air Force photo by Justin Oakes)
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U.S. Air Force Maj. Jonathan Stueckle, left, Cyber Sustainment Branch chief engineer, Steve O'Neil, center, HCIC facility manager, and 2nd Lt. David Beberwyk, a base Civil Engineer project manager, stand on the walkway of the new Hanscom Collaboration and Innovation Center radio tower at Hanscom AFB, Mass., Dec. 17, 2015. The tower stands 120 feet tall and is made of composite material designed to reduce cost over the lifecycle of the structure. (U.S. Air Force photo by Justin Oakes)

U.S. Air Force Maj. Jonathan Stueckle, Cyber Sustainment Branch chief engineer, left, Stephen O'Neil, HCIC facility manager, center, and 2nd Lt. David Beberwyk, a base Civil Engineer project manager, discuss the process of providing lighting protection to the new Hanscom Collaboration and Innovation Center radio tower, Dec. 17, 2015. The radio tower allows the testing facility to double its radio range and connect to distant military installations such as Joint Base Cape Cod. (U.S. Air Force photo by Justin Oakes)
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U.S. Air Force Maj. Jonathan Stueckle, Cyber Sustainment Branch chief engineer, left, Stephen O'Neil, HCIC facility manager, center, and 2nd Lt. David Beberwyk, a base Civil Engineer project manager, discuss the process of providing lighting protection to the new Hanscom Collaboration and Innovation Center radio tower, Dec. 17, 2015. The radio tower allows the testing facility to double its radio range and connect to distant military installations such as Joint Base Cape Cod. (U.S. Air Force photo by Justin Oakes)

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HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Looming high above the Hanscom Collaboration and Innovation Center is the testing facility's latest upgrade.

Recently, the Air Force erected a new 120-foot radio tower for the center, which will inevitably double communication range, correct current line-of-sight issues and support an antenna capable of reaching Joint Base Cape Cod.

"With the expanded capability, the new tower will open doors for more partnerships with federal and state agencies, industry, academia, as well as other military organizations," said. Maj. Jonathan Stueckle, who oversees the HCIC.

The HCIC serves as a testing and development arena for leading-edge advances in defense applications, cyber defenses and public safety, whose current customer base consists of various C3I and Networks and Battle Management programs as well as Massachusetts Army National Guard users. 

With the addition of the tower, the hope is to strengthen collaboration efforts between the different agencies and institutions. 

The construction of the tower was a five-month process costing approximately $3.1 million.

A portion of that money was given to the Air Force from the state as part of a military collaboration investment. Using bonding authority provided by a military bond bill passed by the state legislature and signed into law by then-Gov. Deval Patrick last year, Massachusetts provided $2.9 million for essential installation upgrades.

However, the second part of the $3 million contract must be completed before the tower is operational.

"The structure is complete, but we still need to finish the corresponding power upgrade, as well as a few other things such as lightning protection," Stueckle said.

The Air Force anticipates the power upgrade to be finished in March; meanwhile, antennas and communication equipment will slowly be transferred from the roof of the center to the structure.

In addition to expanding the center's radio range, the tower will also save the Air Force money over time because of its material and design.

Produced by the Air Force Research Laboratory, the tower is comprised of composite material, using snap-fit technology. 

"It's one of a kind," Stueckle said. "Our initial estimates point to an 83 percent savings in assembly time, 75 percent on operations and close to 100 percent improvement on defects."

The utilization of composite material is projected to eliminate the majority of long-term maintenance costs on the structure.

Once things are up and running, the Air Force intends to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility, but a date has yet to be selected.