COBRA DANE

Night view of the COBRA DANE radar

Displays for the COBRA DANE system, 1977

PAVE PAWS(blue) and BMEWS coverage

The AN/FPS-108 COBRA DANE radar is an active electronically scanned array installation operated by the United States Air Force at Eareckson Air Station on the island of Shemya, Alaska.^[1] This radar system was built in 1976 and brought on-line in 1977 for the primary mission of intelligence gathering in support of verification of the SALT II arms limitation treaty. Its single face radar with a 29 m (95 ft) diameter phased array radar antenna52°44′14″N 174°05′29″E / 52.7373°N 174.0914°E / 52.7373; 174.0914 faces the Kamchatka Peninsula and Kura Test Range. Cobra Dane operates in the 1215-1400 MHz band.^[2]

It initially employed a Control Data Corporation Cyber 74 mainframe computer for data processing.^[3] Data from the radar is sent to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) at Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center. It is also listed as a partner of the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office and works with the Missile Defense Agency.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} http://www.mda.mil/mdalink/pdf/09news0002.pdf
2. ^ http://www.fas.org/spp/military/program/track/cobra_dane.htm
3. ^ "Press report on Computer sale to PRC". United States Department of State. 1976-10-30. http://aad.archives.gov/aad/createpdf?rid=271363&dt=2082&dl=1345. Retrieved 2010-04-02. 

See also

• Eareckson Air Station, Shemya island, Alaska
• Specific US radar and locations
  • Thule Air Base, Greenland
  • Clear Air Force Station, Alaska
  • RAF Fylingdales, United Kingdom
  • Cape Cod Air Force Station, Massachusetts
  • Beale Air Force Base, California
  • Cavalier Air Force Station, North Dakota

External links

• National Security Space Roadmap COBRA DANE Overview
• NASA Orbital Debris Program Office
• Raytheon - Upgrades, etc.

United States Air Force portal