This Year's Best Air Defense Weapon Controller Is

Warrant Officer Jeon Seong-hwan (right in the photo), selected as the Air Force's top air defense weapon controller, "Golden Eye" (Ground Control System division), and Warrant Officer Kim Byung-yong (left, Air Control System division) are holding plaques and posing for a commemorative photo.

[Asia Economy Military Specialist Yang Nak-gyu] Lieutenant Jeon Seong-hwan (29) was selected as the best air defense weapon controller in the ground control system category, and Lieutenant Kim Byung-yong (32) was selected in the air control system category, both honored with the title "Golden Eye."

According to the Air Force on the 20th, the "Golden Eye," which selects the best air defense weapon controller known as the "Sleepless Eye Guarding the Sky," is chosen through the air combat interception control competition. Since the first competition in 1980, this 41st edition evaluates the operational capabilities and skills of air controllers. The winner is awarded the title "Golden Eye," inspired by the Air Defense Control Command's slogan, "Sleepless Eye Guarding the Sky."

Lieutenants Jeon Seong-hwan and Kim Byung-yong, recipients of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Award, were commissioned as the 5th class of non-commissioned officers performing air control duties through a special appointment exam in 2015.

Lieutenant Jeon, selected in the ground control system category evaluating the operational capabilities of controllers working at the Air Force Central Air Defense Control Center (MCRC), expressed, "Since working at MCRC from 2015, I have felt great pride in participating in the defense of the homeland's airspace on the front lines of the Air Force, breathing alongside the vivid voices of pilots through radio frequencies." He added, "I will strive to become a controller with expertise worthy of the honorable title 'Golden Eye'."

Lieutenant Kim, selected in the air control system category evaluating interception control capabilities on the E-737 Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, said, "I will work hard to further develop the valuable experiences gained while preparing for this competition to help improve the skills of my fellow and junior controllers."

Air defense weapon controllers perform interception control missions by guiding friendly interceptors to the optimal position to shoot down enemy aircraft infiltrating the airspace. In the three-dimensional airspace, they must provide pilots with the optimal approach altitude, speed, and direction by considering the enemy aircraft's altitude, speed, infiltration direction, and the relative position of friendly interceptors. To swiftly guide friendly aircraft to the enemy's rear at high speed, accurate judgment and quick reflexes are essential. Controllers, who position aircraft in specific airspace without landmarks or signposts and determine their flight paths, serve as the living rudder of fighter jets.

The Air Force stated that 68 operational personnel who passed the preliminary rounds by unit competed in the finals over three months from June to August to showcase their skills in this competition.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.