(VCDS). Presently, it is under the Infor- ADM unpredictable disturbances to the ionosphere mation Management. caused by the Aurora Borealis would have ren- In 1979, a Joint Air Defence USA-Canada dered such a system unreliable and opera- Study examined evolving airborne threats to tionally useless. Using space-based radar to North America and appropriate responses. The detect and track airborne vehicles was also ruled Study led to the development of an Air Defence out based on technical feasibility and prohibitive Master Plan (ADMP) that acknowl- edged that cost. These two factors led to the decision to long-range bombers carrying air- launched replace the Line system with a modern, DEW cruise missiles (ALCM) represented a significant automated, microwave radar net- work that threat that had to be countered. Existing legacy would be able to detect both aircraft and ALCMs systems, such as the Line and the Pinetree DEW down to a low level, and that would complement Line, were not capable or not correctly the coverage of the planned systems on OTH-B positioned to deal with the threat. The ADMP the East Coast of North America and in Alaska. concept of integrated attack warning and The new radar network would be known as the assessment called for a system of North Warn- ing System (NWS). Backscatter (OTH-B) radars covering By 1984, the system computers had SAGE approaches to North America out to 1,500 miles. been replaced with the solid-state AN/FYQ-93 The used technology, which OTH-B HF computers. The system was reorganized into depended on the ionosphere for suc- cessful regional and sector operations control cen- tres. operation. The use of a north-looking OTH-B At the same time, the areas of re- NORAD was ruled out because the severe and Four CELE (Air) Colonels exchange positions at Cambridge Bay, 1991. L-r _, _, Col Sandy Taylor, _, Col Pep Fraser, Col NWT, Larry Saunders, _, _, Col Merv Sywyk, _. Col Saunders was taking over the position of Project Manager from Col NAADM Merv Sywyk; Col Pep Fraser was handing over the position of Director NWS Office to Col Sandy Taylor.
(VCDS). Presently, it is under the ADM Infor- mation Management. In 1979, a Joint USA-Canada Air Defence Study examined evolving airborne threats to North America and appropriate responses. The Study led to the development of an Air Defence Master Plan (ADMP) that acknowl- edged that long-range bombers carrying air- launched cruise missiles (ALCM) represented a significant threat that had to be countered. Existing legacy systems, such as the DEW Line and the Pinetree Line, were not capable or not correctly positioned to deal with the threat. The ADMP concept of integrated attack warning and assessment called for a system of Backscatter (OTH-B) radars covering approaches to North America out to 1,500 miles. The OTH-B used HF technology, which depended on the ionosphere for suc- cessful operation. The use of a north-looking OTH-B was ruled out because the severe and unpredictable disturbances to the ionosphere caused by the Aurora Borealis would have ren- dered such a system unreliable and opera- tionally useless. Using space-based radar to detect and track airborne vehicles was also ruled out based on technical feasibility and prohibitive cost. These two factors led to the decision to replace the DEW Line system with a modern, automated, microwave radar net- work that would be able to detect both aircraft and ALCMs down to a low level, and that would complement the coverage of the planned OTH-B systems on the East Coast of North America and in Alaska. The new radar network would be known as the North Warn- ing System (NWS). By 1984, the SAGE system computers had been replaced with the solid-state AN/FYQ-93 computers. The system was reorganized into regional and sector operations control cen- tres. At the same time, the NORAD areas of re- Four CELE (Air) Colonels exchange positions at Cambridge Bay, NWT, 1991. L-r _, _, Col Sandy Taylor, _, Col Pep Fraser, Col Larry Saunders, _, _, Col Merv Sywyk, _. Col Saunders was taking over the position of Project Manager NAADM from Col Merv Sywyk; Col Pep Fraser was handing over the position of Director NWS Office to Col Sandy Taylor.
semaphore-to-satellite-chapter-101.docx