Tinker AFB E-3 Sentries on UHF Satcom
For the past 2 days, I've noticed that Tinker AFB E-3's are operating on UHF Satcom in my local area here in San Antonio, TX / South Texas.
What happens is that an E-3 will fly down from Tinker AFB to do ACM training with the 182nd Fighter Squadron (F-16s) our of Lackland AFB/Kelly Field. First, I'll see the Sentry show up on ADS-B so I know it is in the area (they do this training out at the Crystal MOA). They will usually check in with NORAD on 364.2 and then start their orbit. The F-16's will then leave Kelly field and I immediately start seeing SATCOM traffic on the UHF uplink inputs almost on cue. I suspect that these SATCOM communications are back to Tinker to give status updates etc on the mission.
The ACM operations will begin and E-3 will direct two sets of two F-16s in ACM manuvers. Once the sortie ends, the F-16s will check back in with SOF at Kelly field enroute home, and the E-3 will come back up on SATCOM with comms at the end of the sortie. Again, probably mission status updates back to Tinker.
I have a dedicated radio that scans all the UHF Satcom uplinks, so I'm able to catch these comms. The SATCOM comms are in encrypted VINSON 16Kbs voice. They occur on the following SATCOM UHF assignments:
261.575 / 295.175
260.475 / 294.075
Interesting stuff! I've never heard any clear voice.
BTW, for those in South Texas they run the ACM comms on 375.825 which is Houston Center's discrete freq for the crystal MOA. Also used during these exercises:
375.825 Houston Center MOA Discrete (fighters check in with the AWACS)
364.200 NORAD AICC (The E-3 checks in with BIGFOOT)
140.150 ACM Air to Air VHF
138.100 Opposing ACM Team Air to Air VHF
235.950 ACM Air to Air UHF
252.000 Opposing ACM Team Air to Air UHF
237.150 Opposing ACM Team Air to Air UHF
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