Ballistic Missile Early Warning System
| Ballistic Missile Early Warning System | |
|---|---|
| BMEWS Central Computer and Display Facility in United States | |
Sketch of Clear Space Force Station BMEWS radars | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Radar network |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1958–1961 (complete FOC was 15 January 1964) |
| Built by | RCA Defense Electronics Products: 29 |
| Fate | Replaced in 2001 by SSPARS
|
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The RCA 474L Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS, 474L System, Project 474L) was a United States Air Force Cold War early warning radar, computer, and communications system, for ballistic missile detection. The network of twelve radars, which was constructed beginning in 1958 and became operational in 1961, was built to detect a mass ballistic missile attack launched on northern approaches [for] 15 to 25 minutes' warning time also provided Project Space Track satellite data (e.g., about one-quarter of SPADATS observations).
It was replaced by the Solid State Phased Array Radar System in 2001.