(U) Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS) at Clear

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)

Overview: (U)
(U)  The Clear Ballistic Missile Early Warning Radar System (BMEWS) site is located at Clear Air Station, Alaska, and is operated by the 13th Space Warning Squadron.   The BMEWS system detects, tracks, and provides tactical warning and attack assessment (TW/AA) of ballistic missiles launched against the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom. 

Description: (U)
(U)  The Clear Air Station BMEWS site initially began operations on 30 June 1961.  It consists of BMEWS AN/FPS-50 fence antennas and an AN/FPS-92 tracking radar antenna and radome.  The Clear Radar Upgrade (CRU) program is the planned replacement of the currently operational, aging, mechanical 1950's vintage radars.  Two faces, one from each of the PAVE PAWS sites that have been placed into warm storage (Eldorado and Robbins) will be provided as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE).  The upgrade is to occur with minimal disruption to the operations of the existing Clear radars during construction, integration, and testing phases.  The modernized initial operational capability (IOC) date is October 2001.  Following IOC and acceptance of the upgraded Clear radar, the existing BMEWS AN/FPS-50 fence antennas and the AN/FPS-92 tracking radar will be dismantled and removed. 

(U)  The BMEWS radar network consists of three radars located at Thule Air Force Base (AFB), Greenland; Clear, Alaska; and Royal Air Force (RAF) Air Base, Fylingdales, UK .  The Fylingdales BMEWS and the Thule BMEWS are three and two faced phased array radars, respectively, while the Clear BMEWS site employs three detection and one tracking mechanical radar(s).  The Thule two-faced phased array BMEWS radar was modernized in 2QFY87.  The Fylingdales three-faced BMEWS BMEWS radar was modernized in 1QFY92.  

(U)  BMEWS radars operate in the UHF (420-450 MHz) frequency range.  The radars' missions are performed automatically under control of the mission software, which directs radar operation to detect, acquire and track missile and satellite objects of interest.  The system also processes data to classify unknown, tracked objects.

User Impact: (U)
(U) The BMEWS system detects, tracks, and provides TW/AA of ballistic missiles launched against the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom. 

Programmatics: (U)
(U) Operational.

(U) Organizations and Funding:
	(U) USSPACECOM: Funding Source.

Related Initiatives: (U)
(U) BMEWS, Clear Upgrade

Related Requirements: (U)
(U) None.

Related Categories: (U)
(U) BMEWS, Collateral Sensors

Road Map Placements: (U)
(U) SPACE CONTROL: S.S. NETWORK, SURVEILLANCE AND WARNING.

Lead Office: (U)
(U) Air Force.

Date of Information: (U)
13 November 1997

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)