21 Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron
Encyclopedia
21 Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron is a Canadian Forces
Unit based at CFB North Bay
. The Squadron was activated at St. Margaret's, New Brunswick, Canada in 1953 with the signing of the Pinetree Agreement. In 1963 it became part of the Semi-Automated Ground Environment system, and became North Bay’s Alternate Command Post and Automated Back-up Interceptor Control Unit. In 1988 the unit was disbanded and reformed in North Bay. Today, it is the operational unit performing the Canadian Air Defence section mission.
With its complement of 185 personnel, 21 Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron maintains air sovereignty
over Canadian airspace, monitors Canada's surveillance
assets and controls assigned Aircraft. It coordinates with outside agencies to identify air traffic (over 200,000 flights a year), provides control of special air sovereignty incidents, assist law enforcement agencies with cases of suspected smuggling
of illegal drugs via air into North America and supports international defense and peacekeeping
commitments.
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
Unit based at CFB North Bay
CFB North Bay
Canadian Forces Base North Bay, also CFB North Bay, is an air force base located at the City of North Bay, Ontario about north of Toronto. The base is subordinate to 1 Canadian Air Division, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and is the centre for North American Aerospace Defense Command operations in Canada,...
. The Squadron was activated at St. Margaret's, New Brunswick, Canada in 1953 with the signing of the Pinetree Agreement. In 1963 it became part of the Semi-Automated Ground Environment system, and became North Bay’s Alternate Command Post and Automated Back-up Interceptor Control Unit. In 1988 the unit was disbanded and reformed in North Bay. Today, it is the operational unit performing the Canadian Air Defence section mission.
With its complement of 185 personnel, 21 Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron maintains air sovereignty
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
over Canadian airspace, monitors Canada's surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
assets and controls assigned Aircraft. It coordinates with outside agencies to identify air traffic (over 200,000 flights a year), provides control of special air sovereignty incidents, assist law enforcement agencies with cases of suspected smuggling
Smuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
of illegal drugs via air into North America and supports international defense and peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
commitments.