The 7th Space Warning Squadron (SWS) is the premier Space Domain Awareness sensor on the West Coast. The unit was originally established to guard the U.S. West Coast against sea-launched ballistic missiles from the eastern outskirts of Beale Air Force Base approximately 8 miles (13 km) east of Marysville, California. 7 SWS is a geographically separated unit of Space Delta 4.[2]
The 7th SWS is primarily responsible for Space Domain Awareness along two lines of effort: Integrated Missile Warning & Defense (IMW/D) and Space Surveillance (SSA). Their passive mission is IMW/D where they only take action after a missile event has occurred. After autonomously sensing a missile within the coverage area the crew takes action in order to warn senior leaders of threats. All other times, the crew is actively engaged with the radar equipment, tuning and managing radar energy to best acquire, discern, track, and disseminate space object observations.
Speed is a key factor in day-to-day squadron activities. Within 60 seconds after detecting a launch, the crew on duty has to determine if the detection is valid, under investigation, or anomalous due to computer, mechanical or personnel error. After that, the crew determines the number of launched vehicles and provides impact predictions on North America. Once the information is determined, the unit passes updates to the appropriate authorities.[2]
The 7th SWS's corollary mission of Missile Defense supports the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. This program's objective is the defense of the United States against a threat of a limited strategic ballistic missile attack. The unit's Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) detects, acquires, and tracks inbound missiles to provide the necessary data to classify and engage the target. This target data allows the GMD Fire Control and Communications element to generate a weapons task plan, allowing for the engagement, interception, and negation of threat of a ballistic missile reentry vehicle in the exoatmospheric region of space.[2]
Satellite Surveillance
As missile threats are not common, the squadron's day-to-day mission is to track earth-orbiting satellites, and reports the information to the 18th Space Control Squadron (18 SPCS) at Vandenberg Space Force Base. This information is then combined with information from other sensors to form a satellite catalog. The CSpOC uses the catalog to keep track of more than 16,000 objects in orbit. The catalog is also used to generate the United Nations Registry Report, so national and international agencies can make sure new satellites will safely launch and orbit.[2]
The PAVE PAWS radar uses nearly 3,600 small active antenna elements coordinated by two computers. One computer is on-line at all times, while the second automatically takes control if the first fails. The computers control the distribution of energy to the antennas to form precise patterns, allowing the radar to detect objects moving at a very high speed since no mechanical parts limit the radar sweep. The radar can change its point of focus in milliseconds, while conventional radars may take up to a minute to mechanically swing from one area to another. The main building is shaped like a pyramid with a triangular base 105 feet on each side. The two radiating faces are tilted back 20 degrees. Pave PAWS radar beams reach outward for nearly 3,000 nautical miles in a 240-degree sweep. At its extreme range, it can detect an object the size of a small car. Smaller objects can be detected at closer range.[2]
History
The Air Force finished construction of the PAVE PAWS site at Beale in October 1979. The unit was originally part of Aerospace Defense Command 26th Aerospace Division. In December 1979, it became part of Strategic Air Command. It attained initial operational capability in August 1980.[2]
The unit transferred to Air Force Space Command in May 1983, eventually becoming the 7th Missile Warning Squadron. When the Air Force reorganized in 1992, the 21st Space Wing activated at Peterson AFB. The 7th MWS moved to the 21st SW and was renamed the 7th SWS. In 2007, 7th SWS completed the upgrade to Upgraded Early Warning Radar.[2]
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The 7th Space Warning Squadron SWS is the premier Space Domain Awareness sensor on the West Coast The unit was originally established to guard the U S West Coast against sea launched ballistic missiles from the eastern outskirts of Beale Air Force Base approximately 8 miles 13 km east of Marysville California 7 SWS is a geographically separated unit of Space Delta 4 2 7th Space Warning Squadron7th Space Warning Squadron emblemActive1979 PresentCountryUnited StatesBranch United States Space ForceTypeSpace OperationsRoleMissile WarningPart ofSpace Delta 4Garrison HQBeale Air Force BaseNickname s Bandits 1 DecorationsAFOUACommandersCurrentcommanderLt Col Daniel Boyd Contents 1 Mission 1 1 Space Domain Awareness 1 2 Integrated Missile Warning amp Defense IMW D 1 3 Satellite Surveillance 1 4 Equipment 2 History 3 Previous designations 4 Assignments 4 1 Branch 4 2 Functional Command 4 3 Space Delta 5 List of commanders 6 Decorations 7 ReferencesMission EditSpace Domain Awareness Edit The 7th SWS is primarily responsible for Space Domain Awareness along two lines of effort Integrated Missile Warning amp Defense IMW D and Space Surveillance SSA Their passive mission is IMW D where they only take action after a missile event has occurred After autonomously sensing a missile within the coverage area the crew takes action in order to warn senior leaders of threats All other times the crew is actively engaged with the radar equipment tuning and managing radar energy to best acquire discern track and disseminate space object observations Integrated Missile Warning amp Defense IMW D Edit The 7th SWS is responsible for detecting submarine launched ballistic missiles SLBM fired from the Pacific Ocean and Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles The unit then determines how many missiles in flight probable destination and reports to the North American Aerospace Defense Command s missile warning center Cheyenne Mountain AFS United States Space Command and National Command Authority 2 Speed is a key factor in day to day squadron activities Within 60 seconds after detecting a launch the crew on duty has to determine if the detection is valid under investigation or anomalous due to computer mechanical or personnel error After that the crew determines the number of launched vehicles and provides impact predictions on North America Once the information is determined the unit passes updates to the appropriate authorities 2 The 7th SWS s corollary mission of Missile Defense supports the Ground Based Midcourse Defense GMD element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System This program s objective is the defense of the United States against a threat of a limited strategic ballistic missile attack The unit s Upgraded Early Warning Radar UEWR detects acquires and tracks inbound missiles to provide the necessary data to classify and engage the target This target data allows the GMD Fire Control and Communications element to generate a weapons task plan allowing for the engagement interception and negation of threat of a ballistic missile reentry vehicle in the exoatmospheric region of space 2 Satellite Surveillance Edit As missile threats are not common the squadron s day to day mission is to track earth orbiting satellites and reports the information to the 18th Space Control Squadron 18 SPCS at Vandenberg Space Force Base This information is then combined with information from other sensors to form a satellite catalog The CSpOC uses the catalog to keep track of more than 16 000 objects in orbit The catalog is also used to generate the United Nations Registry Report so national and international agencies can make sure new satellites will safely launch and orbit 2 Equipment Edit Main article PAVE PAWS The PAVE PAWS radar uses nearly 3 600 small active antenna elements coordinated by two computers One computer is on line at all times while the second automatically takes control if the first fails The computers control the distribution of energy to the antennas to form precise patterns allowing the radar to detect objects moving at a very high speed since no mechanical parts limit the radar sweep The radar can change its point of focus in milliseconds while conventional radars may take up to a minute to mechanically swing from one area to another The main building is shaped like a pyramid with a triangular base 105 feet on each side The two radiating faces are tilted back 20 degrees Pave PAWS radar beams reach outward for nearly 3 000 nautical miles in a 240 degree sweep At its extreme range it can detect an object the size of a small car Smaller objects can be detected at closer range 2 History EditThe Air Force finished construction of the PAVE PAWS site at Beale in October 1979 The unit was originally part of Aerospace Defense Command 26th Aerospace Division In December 1979 it became part of Strategic Air Command It attained initial operational capability in August 1980 2 The unit transferred to Air Force Space Command in May 1983 eventually becoming the 7th Missile Warning Squadron When the Air Force reorganized in 1992 the 21st Space Wing activated at Peterson AFB The 7th MWS moved to the 21st SW and was renamed the 7th SWS In 2007 7th SWS completed the upgrade to Upgraded Early Warning Radar 2 Previous designations Edit7th Space Warning Squadron 1991 Present 7th Missile Warning Squadron 1979 1991 Assignments EditBranch Edit United States Space Force Functional Command Edit Space Operations Command Space Delta Edit Space Delta 4List of commanders EditThis list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items September 2021 Lt Col Dale R Madison Aug 1996 1998 3 Lt Col Dale Shirasago 1998 2000 Lt Col Dane Hollenga 2000 2002 Lt Col David Sutton 2002 2004 Lt Col Russell Pulliam 2004 2006 Lt Col Keith Skinner 2006 July 2008 Lt Col Corey J Keppler July 2008 2010 4 Lt Col Scott M Schroff 2010 2012 Lt Col Mark J Sorapuru 2012 June 2014 Lt Col Miguel A Cruz June 2014 June 2016 5 Lt Col Jason L Terry June 2016 June 2018 6 Lt Col Charles S Sandusky June 2018 July 2020 Lt Col Blake R Hoagland July 2020 June 2022 7 Lt Col Daniel Boyd June 2022 presentDecorations EditAir Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 Jan 1998 31 Dec 1998 8 1 Oct 1997 30 Sep 1999 9 References Edit https www facebook com watch v 400717638238766 user generated source a b c d e f g h 7th Space Warning Squadron Factsheet United States Air Force 16 August 2012 Retrieved 10 April 2013 AFHRA FOIA Req 09 0061 21st Space Wing Roster of Key Personnel as of 31 December 1996 7th SWS Changes Command gt Peterson Space Force Base gt News of Peterson Schriever Garrison USSF Peterson Space Force Base Archived from the original on 26 September 2021 Retrieved 26 September 2021 Colonel Miguel A Cruz Jason L Terry LinkedIn Peterson Schriever Garrison USSF Peterson Space Force Base AFSPC Special Order GA 62 6 December 1999 AFSPC Special Order GA 58 6 December 1999 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 7th Space Warning Squadron amp oldid 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