FIXED RADAR SITES (information from early 1980s)

This aspect of tactical air control and the interaction between NATO, USAFE and USAREUR elements in working towards providing air defense over West German airspace during the Cold War is the primary focus of this page (and the Command & Control Section, 94th ADA Bde). (The interaction between USAFE and USAREUR units in Offensive Operations will be dealt with on a different page.)

It should be noted that, for military purposes, West Germany was divided into two areas with respect to American and NATO aircraft operations -- 2 ATAF (Allied Tactical Air Force) which encompassed Northern Germany and 4 ATAF which took in all of Southern Germany. 2 ATAF supported Northern Army Group (NORTHAG) ground forces primarily composed of British, Dutch, Belgian and German forces. 4 ATAF supported Central Army Group (CENTAG) which was largely composed of American, German, French and Canadian troops.

The Defensive Air Control process begins with fixed radar sites whose domed facilities dot the West German countryside. In appearance, they are similar to the radar stations along the Northern Frontier back in the States which serve as part of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) system. The six fixed radar sites located in 4 ATAF are collectively known as the "412L System" because of the type of equipment they employ. Fixed radar sites in 2 ATAF use a different system called the "NATO Air Defense Ground Environment (NADGE) Network." However, it should be noted that the 601st TCW is only involved with fixed radar operations in 4 ATAF. Also, though six 412L fixed radar sites operate in Southern Germany, only the unit at Börfink comes under the 601st TCW. The other five sites (at Lauda, Freising, Meßstetten, Döbraberg and Wasserkuppe) are operated by the German Air Force (GAF) (1).

With regards to Börfink's Control and Reporting Center Mission -- as assigned to the Wing's 615th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (615th AC&WS) -- the site is tasked with providing 24 hour-a-day surveillance of its assigned airspace and rendering support for offensive and defensive air operations as directed by NATO planners. The 615th AC&WS' CRC also maintains the unique posture of being the Wing's only unit under NATO operational control for both peacetime and wartime conditions. To insure mission accomplishment, the 615th AC&WS maintains two detachments -- one at the Frankfurt Air Defense Notification Center (ADNC) and the other collocated with the Sector Operations Center (SOC) at Kindsbach, Germany. Kindsbach provides air situation and status displays in support of the Allied Sector III Commander and the Frankfurt operation produces the collection, processing, and dissemination of military and civilian flight information for use by the NATO Air Defense System. Lastly, elements of the 32nd Army Air Defense Command's Missile Control Center receives logistics and facility support from the Börfink CRC.

Unfortunately, the close proximity of 412L sites to the East German border, coupled with the immobile nature of their operations, result in the generally accepted belief that they will not survive very long in a hostile environment. Thus the need for a mobile and survivable radar system. (More details on the mobile radar elements will be provided later.)


(1) The 412L sites are undergoing a transition (early 1980s) to newer equipment and Börfink is the first Control and Reporting Center (CRC) to receive the conversion. When the modification is complete, the "412L" designation will be dropped and the fixed radar sites in 4 ATAF will become the "German Air Defense Ground Environment (GEADGE) Network." (One of the 601st TCW mobile radar units has picked up Börfink's responsibility of providing 24 hour surveillance coverage. This unit will continue to augment the fixed radar system until Börfink comes back on line as an operational unit. Also, this site was a master control and reporting center wherein it "ran" the entire 412L system. After the new GEADGE modification, this will no longer hold true.)

EARLY WARNING RADAR
The aircraft control and warning network implemented by NATO consisting initially of 18 radar stations. This early warning network became operational in 1962 and improved NATO's ability to react in a more timely manner by providing information on air activity in the areas adjacent to NATO's territories.

Radar Stations/Ground Control Intercept
The fire control radar used by SAM sites depend on early warning radar for initial target detection and location. The Early Warning (EW) radar is typically a low frequency (100-1000 Hz), large beam (6-16 degree), long range (200 or more nautical miles) system capable of searching a full 360-degrees for initial target detection and heading.

After the EW radar detects the target, the acquisition (Acq) radar further localizes the position for the small beam trackers. These radar are characterized by medium (3-6 degree) beams of medium (800 kHz to 8000 kHz) frequencies and no auto-track capability. They generally search an azimuth segment determined by the EW radar.

Height Finder (HF) systems are used to provide elevation data on the EW and Acq azimuth target data. These radar have characteristics very similar to Acq radar except that the smallest dimension of their beams will be vertical for best elevation resolution.

Ground Controlled Intercept (GCI) systems are usually composed of acquisition and height finder radars. They are used to vector interceptor aircraft to an intruding force.

The GCI stations typically consisted of one search radar, one or two height-finder radar, ground-to-air and air-to-ground communications. Before the introduction of the semi-automatic control systems in the early 1960s, the operators at each station were responsible for watching their respective round radar "scopes". When an aircraft was detected it would appear as a "blip" of light on the screen. Each radar station was connected via telephone to other nearby stations so that a target could be tracked by multiple stations. Information from the radar sites was tied into control centers (CRC) which were equipped with a large illuminated plexiglass board with geographic features of the local countryside imposed on its surface. Men standing on ladders behind these huge clear boards marked the trajectory of significant targets as reports came in from the various radar stations.

Between 1963-65, the air defense radar warning and control system in Central Europe was modernized. The radar sites converted from the manual plotting and tracking equipment to the 412L Air Weapons and Control System (built by General Electric) equipped with data link. Under this system, all missions were directed by data link rather than by voice transmission. The new system used general-purpose digital computers for real-time processing, analysis and distribution of target information from both its own sensors (radar) and other stations via data links. (In the early 1980s, the 412L system was replaced by the newer GEADGE system.)

Control and Reporting Center
The CRC is directly subordinate to the SOC and is the primary element concerned with decentralized execution of air defense and airspace control. The CRC directs region/sector air defense, provides aircraft guidance or monitoring for both offensive and defensive missions, relays mission changes to airborne aircraft as directed, and coordinates control of missions with subordinate air defense elements and other agencies.

Inherent in these functions are the following missions:
to supervise radar elements, and to provide threat warning for friendly aircraft,
to develop procedures to insure that air defense assets of all services are employed in mutually supporting roles,
to establish coordination procedures based on friendly artillery fire plans and aviation operations,
to establish the means for air traffic regulation and identification, and
to support air rescue operations.

Liaison is established with other components to secure airspace usage data from related Radar Stations/Ground Control Intercept control systems. For example, when deployed, the Army Flight Operations Center (FOC) liaison element is normally located within the CRC. In discharging the responsibility for directing air defense, the CRC detects and identifies hostile airborne objects, recommends changes in air defense warning conditions, specifies weapons status, and scrambles or diverts air defense capable aircraft. During joint operations, the CRC assigns appropriate hostile airborne targets to the Army Air Defense System through the Army Air Defense Artillery Fire Coordination Officer located within the CRC.

Control and Reporting Post
The CRP was subordinate to the CRC and provided radar surveillance and control with an assigned subsector. The CRP had capabilities similar to the CRC and could assume CRC functions when directed.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
You mentioned mid-air refueling by KC-135 tankers (see section on Fighter Interceptors) – at the time I was at CRC Boerfink in the late 1960s, we would still encounter sometimes KC-97L “Stratotankers.” These aerial refueling tankers were equipped with piston engines and two jet engines (these were added to increase speed and altitude, making the tankers more compatible with high performance jet aircraft). The KC-97s were flown primarily out of England by Air National Guard units. They flew their refueling mission in the area around Baumholder, flying a pattern in a designated air refueling area nicknamed “Gretchen Anchor.” This area was still utilized in the 1990s under the same name, but by then the tankers flown were KC-135’s and KC-10’s. CRC Boerfink had control of the fighters until they reached the tankers, then the pilots would switch to the radio frequency of the tanker and be controlled by the tanker until refueling was completed.

Now about the concept of the “loop.”
In the air defense system there were several dedicated communications circuits that connected air defense units together – these were called “loops.” Each unit had a loudspeaker and microphone (with PTT) connected to a loop. Radar sites could have several loudspeakers. You could even dial up a particular loop using the Electronic Switching Center (ESC) and connect to a headset.

There was the Tactical Loop (TAC-Loop) that connected all of the defense weapons assets - the weapons sections at the radar sites, fighter interceptor squadrons, the Army’s ADA assets and the Sector Operations Center (SOC). Using this loop, it was possible for Boerfink to call the 496th FIS directly and send a Scramble Order. The response would follow: “Scandalize authenticate XXXXXXX.” A series of codes would be provided that authenticated the order and the Zulu flight would be launched.

Other examples of use for the loop: I could call the 50th TFW at Hahn on this loop and request QNH (air pressure). Or, Zulu aircraft returning to Hahn from a CAP mission under the control of the CRC: “Copper Ring … Scandalize” “Copper Ring is on ….” “AF 1234 over to Eifel Control” “Roger”