Thule cuts ribbon on upgraded radar warning site

Cutting their way to completion

Col. Kyle Haase, Ballistic Missile Defense Systems Worldwide Deployments program manager, Col. Lee-Volker Cox, 821st Air Base Group commander, and Lt. Col. James Forand, 12th Space Weapon Squadron commander, cut the ribbon at a ceremony held at Thule Air Base, Greenland Jan. 24, marking the symbolic completion of the Upgraded Early Warning Radar construction phase and beginning of the equipment installation phase. The upgrade will consist of modifications to hardware and software that will provide detection and tracking of ballistic missiles launched toward North America and other nations, and is expected to be operational in late 2009 after extensive testing. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. Nicole Langley)

Early warning radar transitions to new phase

The Upgraded Early Warning Radar at Thule Air Base, Greenland (pictured here) just ended construction phase and now begins the equipment installation phase. The transition comes on the heels of a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the significant transition. The upgrades consist of modifications to hardware and software that will provide detection and tracking of ballistic missiles launched toward North America and other nations, and is expected to be operational in late 2009 after extensive testing. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Published Jan. 28, 2008
By 1st Lt. Nicole Langley
821st Air Base Group

THULE AIR BASE, Greenland -- A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held here Jan. 24 as the symbolic completion of the Upgraded Early Warning Radar construction phase at the 21st Space Wing's Ballistic Missile Early Warning System - Site 1.

The actual completion of the facility is 95 percent, explained Gary Young, Missile Defense Agency site manager here.

The BMEWS is operated by the 12th Space Warning Squadron.

The event also marked the beginning of the installation phase of the UEWR's equipment.

The ribbon was cut by Col. Kyle Haase, Ballistic Missile Defense Systems Worldwide Deployments program manager, Col. Lee-Volker Cox, 821st Air Base Group commander and Lt. Col. James Forand, 12th SWS commander, in a ceremony attended by members of this air base and MDA representatives.

The upgrade will consist of modifications to hardware and software which will provide detection and tracking of ballistic missiles launched toward North America and other nations.

After the upgrade, the radar will perform its decades-long early warning mission, said Richard Lehner, MDA Public Affairs officer. It will also be able to search for different types of missiles, distinguish hostile objects, such as warheads from other objects, and provide this data using improved communications systems.

However, the upgrade will not change the physical appearance of the radar and no new facilities or radars are planned to be built here or elsewhere in Greenland.

Thule's radar is the third of five radars that are programmed to be upgraded to the UEWR configuration. The radars at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., and Royal Air Force Fylingdales, United Kingdom, have been upgraded and are currently progressing through the final stages of the upgrade program.

After extensive testing, Thule's radar is expected to be operational in late 2009.