Eglin AFB Site C-6
| Eglin AFB Site C-6 | |
|---|---|
The transmitting and receiving phased array antennas are mounted on the 45° angled side of the transmitter/receiver building at Eglin AFB Site C-6. The antennas face southward in a direction that intercepts the 90 minute circular orbit altitude near the equator. | |
| General information | |
| Type | transmitter/receiver building |
| Architectural style | phased array building |
| Location | elevated landform between Fox Branch, Little Alaqua, and Little Basin Creeks |
| Town or city | Walton County |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 30°34′24″N 86°12′54″W / 30.57333°N 86.21500°W |
| Owner | United States Space Force |
| Technical details | |
| Material | structural steel: 1,250 tons concrete: 1,400 cubic yards (1,100 m3) |
| Design and construction | |
| Developer | Bendix Corporation |
| Website | |
| 21 Space Wing Fact Sheet 4730 | |
Eglin AFB Site C-6 is a United States Space Force radar station which houses the AN/FPS-85 phased array radar, associated computer processing system(s), and radar control equipment designed and constructed for the U.S. Air Force by the Bendix Communications Division, Bendix Corporation. Commencing operations in 1969, the AN/FPS-85 was the first large phased array radar. The entire radar/computer system is located at a receiver/transmitter building and is supported by the site's power plant, fire station, 2 water wells (for 128 people), and other infrastructure for the system. As part of the US Space Force's Space Surveillance Network its mission is to detect and track spacecraft and other manmade objects in Earth orbit for the Combined Space Operations Center satellite catalogue. With a peak radiated power of 32 megawatts the Space Force claims it is the most powerful radar in the world, and can track a basketball-sized object up to 22,000 nautical miles (41,000 km) from Earth. In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System, the radar's "AN/FPS-85" designation represents the 85th design of an Army-Navy fixed radar(pulsed) electronic device for searching.