Participation by Radar Sensors in GMD Intercept Tests Using Operationally-Configured Interceptors
–PAVE PAWS radars in AK and MA are not yet part of GMD system
–BMEWS radars in Greenland and Britain on wrong side of planet for these tests.
Table of Radar Sensors in Operationally-Configured GMD Intercept Tests (April 13, 2012)
Posted by mostlymissiledefense on April 13, 2012
https://mostlymissiledefense.com/2012/04/13/table-of-sensors-in-operationally-configured-gmd-intercept-tests-april-13-2012/
Space Surveillance Sensors: SSN Phased-Array Radars Overview Table (April 13, 2012)
Tabular Overview of SSN Phased Array Radars
For details and references, see posts on individual systems.
Posted by mostlymissiledefense on April 13, 2012
https://mostlymissiledefense.com/2012/04/13/ssn-phased-array-radars-overview-table-april-13-2012/
Space Surveillance Sensors: The PAVE PAWS and BMEWS Radars (April 12, 2012)
PAVE PAWS
Background
Two PAVE PAWS (FPS-115) ballistic missile early warning radars are located on Cape Cod, Massachusetts (41.75˚E, 70.54˚W, oriented east), and at Beale Air Force Base in California (39,14˚N, 121.35˚W, oriented west). A third radar, the BMEWS (Ballistic Missile Early Warning System) radar at Clear, Alaska (64.30˚N, 149.19˚W, oriented north) appears to be essentially identical to the two PAVE PAWS and so is discussed with them. All three radars are collateral sensors in the SSN. PAVE PAWS radars in Georgia and Texas were deactivated in the mid-1980s and parts from these radars were used in building the Alaska radar.
Posted by mostlymissiledefense on April 12, 2012
https://mostlymissiledefense.com/2012/04/12/pave-paws-and-bmews-radars-april-12-2012/
Space Surveillance Sensors: The Cobra Dane Radar (April 12, 2012)
Background
Cobra Dane (AN/FPS-108) is a large and powerful phased-array radar located on Shemya Island at the western end of the Aleutian Island chain (52.7º N, 174.1º E).[1] The radar’s boresite is at 319º (that is 41º west from due north) at 20º above the horizon. Its primary mission when deployed was the monitoring of Soviet ballistic missile test flights, with secondary missions of early warning and space surveillance. It became operational in 1977, and underwent a modernization in the early 1990s and a number of enhancements subsequently.
Posted by mostlymissiledefense on April 12, 2012
https://mostlymissiledefense.com/2012/04/12/cobra-dane-radar-april-12-2012/
Space Surveillance Sensors: The PARCS (Cavalier) Radar (April 12, 2012)
Background
The PARCS radar (AN/FPQ-16), located at Cavalier Air Force Station in Northern North Dakota (48.7˚ N, 97.9˚ W), was built as part of the Safeguard ballistic missile defense system, in which it was known as the Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System (PARCS).[1] When Safeguard was shut down in early 1976, after only a few months of operation, the radar continued to operate in missile warning (its new primary mission) and satellite tracking modes. The radar is a collateral sensor in the SSN network.
Posted by mostlymissiledefense on April 12, 2012
https://mostlymissiledefense.com/2012/04/12/parcs-cavalier-radar-april-12-2012/
Space Surveillance Sensors: The FPS-85 Radar (April 12, 2012)
Background
The FPS-85 has been described as the workhorse of the SSN, and is the largest, most sensitive and most important (for space surveillance purposes) of the SSN’s LPARs. It is one of the three dedicated radar sensors in the SSN (the others are the Air Force Fence and the GLOBUS II dish antenna radar in Norway). The radar is located in Eglin, Florida (and thus sometimes referred to as the Eglin Radar) at about 30.6° N (30.57N, 86.22 E) and points directly south.
Posted by mostlymissiledefense on April 12, 2012
https://mostlymissiledefense.com/2012/04/12/the-fps-85-radar-april-12-2012/
What’s the difference between a CE-I and CE-II EKV? (April 3, 2012)
What’s the Difference between a CE-I and CE-II EKV?
There are two variants of the Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) currently deployed.
Posted by mostlymissiledefense on April 3, 2012
https://mostlymissiledefense.com/2012/04/03/whats-the-difference-between-a-ce-i-and-ce-ii-ekv-april-3-2012/
Current status: GMD Interceptors (3/28/2012)
March 28, 2012
Ground-Based Midcourse (GMD) Interceptors and Silos
The GMD’s 30 deployed Ground-Based Interceptors (GBIs) are emplaced in three silo fields at Fort Greely in central Alaska and four silos at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. There is also at least one silo reserved for testing at Vandenberg. Currently, 26 interceptors are deployed at Fort Greely and 4 at Vandenberg. However, no more than 20 of these are apparently currently considered to be operational.
Posted by mostlymissiledefense on March 28, 2012
https://mostlymissiledefense.com/2012/03/28/5/
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