[SandRat]

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- Senior Airman Gil Stephens (left) holds an antenna as Airman 1st Class Sam Hauptly cleans it. Both Airmen are deployed to the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron as ground radio technicians. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Bryan Franks)

[SandRat]

USAF PING

[ASOC]

Cool stuff, thanks for the post.

[Calpernia]

The squadron, known as Kingpin, is a radar control and identification agency responsible for identifying all aircraft flying in the 270,000 square miles of airspace over Iraq.

The unit is deployed in three separate locations in the region. By rapidly identifying air traffic, military or civilian, Kingpin creates a real-time "air picture" that the combined air operation center uses to maintain control of tactical air assets, said the squadron’s Capt. Keven Coyle.