Zenneck Launch Probe

Natural and manmade events can result in long-term and wide-spread disruptions of the electrical grid. Surface wave systems have the potential to improve Air Force installation grid resilience by providing alternative energy sources when they’re needed, as well as help bypass reliance on the aging transmission infrastructure. Photographed is an example of a “transmitter probe,” that would be located near a power generation plant, to launch a Zenneck carrier wave. Also shown is an example demonstrating the assembly of the passive FIMR units.

FIMR Unit Assembly

Air Force signs MOU to test resilience improving technology

Published Feb. 28, 2019
By Melissa Tiedeman
Air Force Installation Energy (SAF/IEE)

Pentagon, Va. -- The United States Air Force signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Viziv Technologies, LLC to collaborate in a partnership to advance surface wave technology. The concept behind this technology is to use a type of electromagnetic wave, called a Zenneck Surface Wave, to carry communications signals or electrical power efficiently over long distances along the Earth’s surface without the need for wires.

With the partnership, the Air Force has agreed to facilitate placement of Field Intensity Monitoring and Reporting Stations at several Air Force installations. The placement of passive field measurement devices is an important step in the advancement of wireless energy transmission technology.

“Wireless transmission technology has the potential to exponentially improve Air Force energy resilience, readiness and combat capability,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Environment, Safety and Infrastructure (SAF/IEE) Mark Correll. “Public-private partnerships like this support the advancement of critical technologies, and keep the Air Force on the technological cutting edge so that our warfighters have every advantage available.”

The need for access to resilient, ready and reliable energy is closely related to the Air Force’s mission to fly, fight and win in air, space and cyberspace. This strategic partnership will further enable and strengthen the resilience and security of Air Force installations.

For more information on how the Air Force is improving energy resilience, visit the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy’s website at: www.safie.hq.af.mil/InstallationEnergy and follow @AirForceEnergy on Facebook and @AFEnergy on Twitter.