9th Space Warning Squadron

The United States Air Force's 9th Space Warning Squadron (9 SWS) was a United States Air Force missile warning unit located at Robins AFB, Georgia.

9th Space Warning Squadron
9th Space Warning Squadron emblem
Active1986-1995
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
TypeSpace Operations
RoleMissile Warning
Part of14 AF/21 SW
Garrison/HQRobins AFB, Georgia

History

The 9th Space Warning Squadron was originally constituted as the 9th Missile Warning Squadron (9 MWS) on 4 January 1985, and activated at Robins AFB on 1 July 1985. The 9 MWS controlled the Southeast facing AN/FPS-123 PAVE PAWS radar site,[1] providing warning to detect sea-launched and intercontinental ballistic missiles. The site went mission operational on 10 November 1986. Later use of the radar included support for the USAF space surveillance network by providing satellite vehicle surveillance, tracking, and radar space object identification. With these added mission areas, the unit was redesignated 9th Space Warning Squadron (9 SWS).[2]

As the likelihood of sea-based missile attacks from the Gulf of Mexico decreased, and the low probability of missile attacks from the South, the United States Air Force decided to close southern-facing PAVE PAWS sites at Robins AFB and Eldorado AS, Texas. Two radar faces, one each from Robins AFB and Eldorado AS, were moved to Clear AFS, Alaska as part of the BMEWS upgrade in 1998.[3]

Assignments

Major Command

Wings/Groups

Previous designations

  • 9th Space Warning Squadron (15 May 1992 – Present)
  • 9th Missile Warning Squadron (4 Jan 1985 – 15 May 1992)

Equipment Operated

See also

References

  1. ""AN/FPS-123 PAVE PAWS"". Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  2. Lineage and Honors from Air Force Historical Research Agency
  3. Globalsecurity.org: "AN/FPS-115 PAVE PAWS"


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.