Thule Site J
| Thule Site J | |
|---|---|
Thule AN/FPS-50 detection reflectors (1959–1987)--concrete foundations included a large refrigeration system to prevent the curing concrete's heat from melting Permafrost. | |
| General information | |
| Type | radar structures |
| Location | 10 miles from Thule AB (13 road miles) |
| Country | Greenland |
| Coordinates | 76°34′13″N 68°17′56″W / 76.570258°N 68.298998°W Early Warning Radar 76°34′04″N 68°17′03″W / 76.56785°N 68.284214°W AN/FPS-49A bldg |
| Opened | 1958-60 (AN/FPS-50) 1963 (AN/FPS-49A) 1987 (AN/FPS-120) |
Thule Site J (J-Site) is a United States Space Force (USSF) radar station in Greenland near Pituffik Space Base for missile warning and spacecraft tracking. The northernmost station of the Solid State Phased Array Radar System, the military installation was built as the 1st site of the RCA 474L Ballistic Missile Early Warning System and had 5 of 12 BMEWS radars. The station has the following structures:
- "EWR facility": structure with a Solid State Phased Array Radar System (SSPARS) phased array radar
- BMEWS radar buildings: 3 of the 4 former AN/FPS-50 buildings, 1 AN/FPS-49A building
- Support structures: e.g., buildings with telecommunication equipment at the station's "support site" (cf. "technical site" with radar)—15 major structures were complete in 1961 (i.e., Bldg 98 which was for the original BRCS)