16th Space Control Squadron
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 16th Space Control Squadron is an Air Force Space Command
unit located at Peterson AFB, Colorado
and assigned to the 21st Space Wing
. The 16th SPCS operates the Rapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting System
(RAIDRS).
's first defensive counterspace unit. The unit is responsible for operating space control capabilities to rapidly achieve flexible and versatile space superiority in support of theater campaigns and USSTRATCOM
's Space Superiority mission.
, under Air Defense Command. The unit mission was to operate the Cobra Dane
long-range early warning radar
system, used to track Soviet missile
launches. It was assigned to the 73d Aerospace Surveillance Wing in January 1967 and then to the 14th Aerospace Force in April 1971.
The unit was again reassigned in 1983, this time to the 1st Space Wing
as one of the original squadrons in the newly established Air Force Space Command
. In 1991, it was assigned to the 73rd Space Surveillance Group. In 1992, the unit was designated the 16th Space Surveillance Squadron. The unit was inactivated in 1993.
The unit was reactivated at Peterson AFB in May 2007 under the 21st Space Wing
to operate the RAIDRS defensive counterspace
system.
Since mid-2005, Operation SILENT SENTRY, operating the predecessor to RAIDRS
, called the Satellite Interference Response System (SIRS) has been continually deployed to the Middle East. Since January 2007, operators from the 16 SCS have provided manpower for the mission.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
's 16th Space Control Squadron is an Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command is a major command of the United States Department of the Air Force, with its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. AFSPC supports U.S. military operations worldwide through the use of many different types of satellite, launch and cyber operations....
unit located at Peterson AFB, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and assigned to the 21st Space Wing
21st Space Wing
The 21st Space Wing is a unit of the Air Force Space Command based at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. The unit is tasked with the operation of early missile warning and space object detection equipment around the world in support of NORAD and USSTRATCOM through a network of command and control...
. The 16th SPCS operates the Rapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting System
Rapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting System
The Rapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting System, also known as RAIDRS is a ground-based space control system that provides near real-time event detection.-Mission:...
(RAIDRS).
Mission
The 16th SPCS is AFSPCAir Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command is a major command of the United States Department of the Air Force, with its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. AFSPC supports U.S. military operations worldwide through the use of many different types of satellite, launch and cyber operations....
's first defensive counterspace unit. The unit is responsible for operating space control capabilities to rapidly achieve flexible and versatile space superiority in support of theater campaigns and USSTRATCOM
United States Strategic Command
United States Strategic Command is one of nine Unified Combatant Commands of the United States Department of Defense . The Command, including components, employs more than 2,700 people, representing all four services, including DoD civilians and contractors, who oversee the command's operationally...
's Space Superiority mission.
History
16th SPCS was activated in November 1966 as the 16th Surveillance Squadron, Shemya AFS, AlaskaAlaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, under Air Defense Command. The unit mission was to operate the Cobra Dane
Cobra Dane
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. This radar system was built in 1976 and brought on-line in 1977 for the primary mission of intelligence gathering...
long-range early warning radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
system, used to track Soviet missile
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
launches. It was assigned to the 73d Aerospace Surveillance Wing in January 1967 and then to the 14th Aerospace Force in April 1971.
The unit was again reassigned in 1983, this time to the 1st Space Wing
1st Space Wing
The 1st Space Wing was a wing of the United States Air Force active from 1983 to 1992 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado as part of Air Force Space Command.-History:...
as one of the original squadrons in the newly established Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command is a major command of the United States Department of the Air Force, with its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. AFSPC supports U.S. military operations worldwide through the use of many different types of satellite, launch and cyber operations....
. In 1991, it was assigned to the 73rd Space Surveillance Group. In 1992, the unit was designated the 16th Space Surveillance Squadron. The unit was inactivated in 1993.
The unit was reactivated at Peterson AFB in May 2007 under the 21st Space Wing
21st Space Wing
The 21st Space Wing is a unit of the Air Force Space Command based at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. The unit is tasked with the operation of early missile warning and space object detection equipment around the world in support of NORAD and USSTRATCOM through a network of command and control...
to operate the RAIDRS defensive counterspace
Space
Space is the boundless, three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction. Physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless four-dimensional continuum...
system.
Since mid-2005, Operation SILENT SENTRY, operating the predecessor to RAIDRS
Rapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting System
The Rapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting System, also known as RAIDRS is a ground-based space control system that provides near real-time event detection.-Mission:...
, called the Satellite Interference Response System (SIRS) has been continually deployed to the Middle East. Since January 2007, operators from the 16 SCS have provided manpower for the mission.
Previous designations
- 16th Space Control Squadron (2007–Present)
- 16th Space Surveillance Squadron (1992–1993)
- 16th Surveillance Squadron (1966–1992)
Bases stationed
- Peterson AFB, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
(2007–Present) - Shemya AFS, AlaskaAlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
(1966–1993)
Commanders
- Lt Col Roger Sherman (2011-Present)
- Lt Col Paul Tombarge(2009–Present)
- Lt Col Edward Allard (2007–2009)
- Lt Col John Perkins (circa 1976)
System Operated
- RAIDRSRapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting SystemThe Rapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting System, also known as RAIDRS is a ground-based space control system that provides near real-time event detection.-Mission:...
(2007–Present) - AN/FPS-108 Cobra DaneCobra DaneThe 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. This radar system was built in 1976 and brought on-line in 1977 for the primary mission of intelligence gathering...
(1976–1993)
Decorations
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- 6 Apr 1993
- 1 Sep 1989-31 Aug 1991
- 1 May 1983-30 Apr 1984
- 1 Jul 1980-30 Jun 1982
See also
- Rapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting SystemRapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting SystemThe Rapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting System, also known as RAIDRS is a ground-based space control system that provides near real-time event detection.-Mission:...
(RAIDRS) - 380th Space Control Squadron380th Space Control SquadronThe United States Air Force's 380th Space Control Squadron is a space control unit located at Peterson AFB, Colorado.-Mission:...