armed forces
ensure the Processing and Exploitation
of information and Dissemination
of intelligence, known as the PED
process. According to Air Force Major
José Antonio Arrieta, head of the
Deployment Section, this capability is
basically designed to support a military
field operation whose headquarters is
deployed in a remote area with limited
connectivity, and to act as a backup in
the event of a cyberattack on the fixed
installations of the NAGSF’s Main
Operating Base, thereby guaranteeing
the operational continuity of the Force.
“It is also designed to promote
situational awareness in humanitarian
crisis environments, facilitating the
decision-making process, and to keep
information up-to-date almost in real
time in the geographical area of a
natural disaster”, says Major Arrieta.
In order to perform its tasks, the
Section has a Permanent Deployment
Core, in charge of advising the Force
Commander and leading the planning
and execution processes required to
project PED capabilities, and two
systems: the TGGS (Transportable
General Ground System), more
permanent and long-lasting, and the
MGGS (Mobile General Ground
System), for greater mobility and
tactical use.
The Expeditionary Capability of
the AGS Force is unique in the world
within its category and, once it attains
its Full Operational Capability, it
will be permanently ready. “At the
tactical level, the MGGS can be fully
operational in two hours and the
TGGS in four”, says Air Force Master
Sergeant Jonás Matías.
COMMUNICATIONS
Air Force Staff Sergeant Alejandro
Villalobos is the only Spaniard
assigned to the Communications
area of the Force. He is currently the
Frequency Manager and is responsible
for managing the allocation of all the
frequencies for the functioning of the
five data links with which the platform
operates. He is also part of a Network
Management team that manages and
maintains these data links and inspects
and maintains modems, satellite
systems and wireless radios.
The Communications area also has
other tasks related to satellite antennas
as well as computer, cryptographic and
avionic equipment.
This NCO remarks that each mission
is different and, therefore, difficulties
change, requiring a high level of
adaptability. “But the most important
challenge for us is to ensure reliable,
fast and secure communications,
without overlooking the great
technological challenge of keeping up
with the constant developments in this
area”, he maintains.
Staff Sergeant Virginia Gallego, an aeroplane mechanic, is part of the Support area and
is the only woman performing this task in the AGS force.
SUSTAINMENT AND LOGISTICS
The AGS Force Sustainment area,
in addition to Colonel Raimundo’s
leadership, has a strong Spanish element,
comprising communications technicians,
supply and logistics personnel, car
mechanics and a female aircraft mechanic,
Air Force Staff Sergeant Gallego, who
is also the only woman performing this
task in the Force. She explains that the
responsibility for sustaining the entire
AGS system lies with the Force itself,
which has enough resources to carry out
first-level maintenance. For the second
level and to cover those areas that exceed
its resources, the unit is supported
by two NATO agencies: the NATO
Communications and Information
Agency (NCIA) and the NATO Support
and Procurement Agency (NSPA).
This sustainment is “a delicate task”,
says Staff Sergeant Gallego “due to
the very advanced technology that
equips the system, both in the aerial
platform and in the communications
area”. She admits, however, that
attaining initial qualification for
the maintenance of the system
and obtaining the airworthiness
certification in European airspace
for an unmanned aircraft of the
characteristics of the Phoenix, have
both presented significant challenges.
The 20 Spanish service members
forming part of the AGS Force had
no previous experience in a system
like this; however, their discipline,
professionalism and constant readiness
have made the rest of the members of
the Force recognize and appreciate
their work at Sigonella.
Nuria Fernández
April 2021 Revista Española de Defensa 21
EMAD