10th Space Warning Squadron

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10th Space Warning Squadron

10th Space Warning Squadron emblem
Active 19xx-Present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Part of USAF Squadron
Garrison/HQ Cavalier Air Force Station

The 10th Space Warning Squadron, Cavalier Air Force Station, North Dakota, 15 miles south of the Canadian and U.S. border, keeps watch for sea-launched and intercontinental ballistic missiles launched toward North America. The squadron is a geographically separated unit of the 21st Space Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

[edit] Mission

The 10th Space Warning Squadron provides tactical warning and attack assessment of sea-launched and intercontinental ballistic missiles launched against the continental United States and southern Canada.

[edit] History

The unit was originally the acquisition radar portion of the United States' only operational anti-ballistic missile system, known as SAFEGUARD. Due to the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (SALT II), components of the SAFEGUARD complex, with the exception of the PARCS radar at Cavalier Air Force Station, were deactivated in February 1976. The forerunner of the present day 10th SWS began passing tactical warning and attack assessment data to Cheyenne Mountain, Colo., in January 1977. In December 1979 the unit was transferred from Aerospace Defense Command to Strategic Air Command. The unit, as it exists today, joined Air Force Space Command in 1983 as Detachment 5, 1st Space Wing. On Aug. 1, 1986, the unit was redesignated as the 10th Missile Warning Squadron, 1st Space Wing. It was renamed the 10th Space Warning Squadron on May 15, 1992, when the 1st Space Wing and 3rd Space Support Wing were inactivated and the 21st Space Wing was activated.

[edit] External links