Col. John Pearse, 8th Fighter Wing commander, sets off a ground-blast simulator during a demonstration on Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Nov. 15, 2012. Pearse was receiving a demonstration on the 8th FW’s two new GBS that are cheaper and safer to operate and will be used during exercises to simulate mortar and rocket attacks. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathan Fowler)
Col. John Pearse, 8th Fighter Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Phillip Robinson, 8th FW command chief, listen to Tech. Sgt. Jason Singer, 8th FW wing plans NCOIC, explain how the new ground-blast simulators function during a demonstration on Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Nov. 15, 2012. The GBS are used during exercises to simulate mortar and rocket attacks. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathan Fowler)
Master Sgt. Todd Cate, 8th Fighter Wing inspector general’s officer, explains to Col. John Pearse, 8th FW commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Phillip Robinson, 8th FW command chief, how the new ground-blast simulators work during a demonstration on Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Nov. 15, 2012. The 8th FW recently purchased two new GBS that are cheaper and safer to operate then the older GBS. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathan Fowler)
by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Fowler
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
11/16/2012 - KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- The Wolf Pack added two new ground-blast simulators to its arsenal Nov. 15 .
The systems are designed to simulate the sound of explosions from various types of attacks such as mortar and rocket attacks. They are used during exercises to give Wolf Pack Airmen a more realistic environment in which to train.
Older GBS were hand-thrown explosives requiring a large safe zone in which to operated. The new GBS can be placed closer to buildings and use a much smaller safe zone. This allows exercise evaluation team personnel to create more accurate attack simulations for Airmen during exercises.
According to Master Sgt. Todd Cate, 8th Fighter Wing inspector general's officer, the Air Force as a whole has a shortage of the old GBS, which is one of the reasons the 8th FW chose to purchase new system. It is aso cheaper to operate than the old throw simulators.
"It's about 5 cents a shot right now," said Tech. Sgt. Jason Todd, 8th FW wing plans NCOIC, while describing the cost of operating the new GBS systems. "The old GBS used to run about $20 for one explosive."
The new systems run on propane and oxygen. The older GBS were more hazardous because they were explosive-based. The change allows EET personnel who use the GBS to operate more safely.
Overall, the new ground blast simulators saves the Wolf Pack money, allow more realistic training scenarios and maintain a higher safety standard.
