Oliktok Long Range Radar Site
Encyclopedia
Oliktok Long Range Radar Site (LRR Site: A-19) is a United States Air Force radar site and military airstrip located 164 miles (263.9 km) east-southeast of Point Barrow, Alaska. It is not open for public use.
radar station at Point Barrow (POW-MAIN), which logistically supported it. It was operated by civilian contract workers. DEW Line operations ceased in April 1995, and the personnel were relieved from their duties.
The radar station was upgraded with new radars and in 1990 was re-designated part of the North Warning System
(NWS) as a Long Range Radar Site, A-19, equipped with a minimally attended AN/FPS-117 long-range surveillance radar. In 1998 Pacific Air Forces initiated "Operation Clean Sweep", in which abandoned Cold War stations in Alaska were remediated and the land restored to its previous state. The site remediation of the radar and support station was carried out by the 611th Civil Engineering Squadron at Elmendorf AFB, and remediation work was completed by 2005.
The site remains active and is accessed by civilian contractors by the adjacent airstrip for periodic maintenance.
History
The site built in 1957 to support the Distant Early Warning LineDistant Early Warning Line
The Distant Early Warning Line, also known as the DEW Line or Early Warning Line, was a system of radar stations in the far northern Arctic region of Canada, with additional stations along the North Coast and Aleutian Islands of Alaska, in addition to the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Iceland...
radar station at Point Barrow (POW-MAIN), which logistically supported it. It was operated by civilian contract workers. DEW Line operations ceased in April 1995, and the personnel were relieved from their duties.
The radar station was upgraded with new radars and in 1990 was re-designated part of the North Warning System
North Warning System
The North Warning System is a joint United States and Canadian radar system for the atmospheric air defense of North America. It provides surveillance of airspace from potential incursions or attacks from across North America's polar region...
(NWS) as a Long Range Radar Site, A-19, equipped with a minimally attended AN/FPS-117 long-range surveillance radar. In 1998 Pacific Air Forces initiated "Operation Clean Sweep", in which abandoned Cold War stations in Alaska were remediated and the land restored to its previous state. The site remediation of the radar and support station was carried out by the 611th Civil Engineering Squadron at Elmendorf AFB, and remediation work was completed by 2005.
The site remains active and is accessed by civilian contractors by the adjacent airstrip for periodic maintenance.
See also
- North Warning SystemNorth Warning SystemThe North Warning System is a joint United States and Canadian radar system for the atmospheric air defense of North America. It provides surveillance of airspace from potential incursions or attacks from across North America's polar region...
- Distant Early Warning LineDistant Early Warning LineThe Distant Early Warning Line, also known as the DEW Line or Early Warning Line, was a system of radar stations in the far northern Arctic region of Canada, with additional stations along the North Coast and Aleutian Islands of Alaska, in addition to the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Iceland...
- Alaskan Air CommandAlaskan Air CommandAlaskan Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1945 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the air defense system of Alaska, exercise direct control of all active measures, and coordinate all passive means of...
- Eleventh Air ForceEleventh Air ForceThe Eleventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska....