GE AN/GPA-73 Radar Course Directing Group

For the "pre-SAGE semiautomatic intercept system", see General Electric AN/GPA-37 Course Directing Group.

The GE AN/GPA-73 Radar Course Directing Group[1] (mobile version AN/CPA-73)[2] was a US Cold War air defense command, control, and coordination system developed for the Electronic Systems Division 412L Air Weapons Control System (colloq. "AWCS 412L")[3] for weapons direction (ground-controlled interception, GCI, by "Fire Direction and Control Equipment").[4]:29 The AN/GPA-73 was used to create a "Base Air Defense Ground Environment" (BADGE II), for which Air Defense Command had recommended the system as "SAGE back-up (Mode Ill) control of BOMARC" in June 1958.[5] When the GPA-73 was emplaced with the AN/FSA-21 Weapons Control Group computer for GCI, the system created a "miniature SAGE" military installation.[6] The GPA-73 could also direct Project Nike surface-to-air missile fire from Nike Integrated Fire Control sites equipped with the "412 Target Designation System" in the Battery Control Van in a space allocated by February 1957 "behind the Acquition Operator [sic]".[7] and the AN/GPA-73.

The 412L Joint Test Force was located at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base in 1963,[3] testing revealed fragility that limited the unit to fixed emplacements, and "Tactical Air Command subsequently rejected the GPA-73 as part of its mobility forces."[2] The 412L equipment supported "Det 1, 17th Air Force [in] the Allied Sector Operations Center III at Börfink", Germany, which had a nuclear bunker where on July 2, 1975, the 615th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron temporarily stopped 412L operations [for] Constant Keystone modification."[2] Sites with the AN/GPA-73 planned for the Alaska Semi-Automatic Defense System (ALSADS) were cancelled on January 26, 1960,[4]:49 and the last "operational 412L equipment" was used by USAFE in Germany [2]

External images
diagram with images of equipment

Description

The GPA-73 included the following equipment (quantity in parenthesis):[3]

References

  1. ↑ Biweekly Report for 29 July 1955 (PDF) (minutes). Memorandum 6M-3797. Lincoln Laboratory Division 6. Retrieved 2013-07-25. A symposium on the AN/GPA-37 system was held at Rome Air Development Center on 26 and 27 July. This system involves a technique for ground control of interceptors by use of the Tracker-Computer (AH/GPA-23), which was developed at Columbia University. Field tests on this system will begin in November 1955; It would be worthwhile to follow the activities of these field tests. … The Systems Office has obtained more detailed information about the Radar Course Directing Group, AN/GPA-37, at a symposium held at RADC on 26 and 27 July. The GPA-37 is intended for backup air defense for SAGE and will be operated at the Heavy Radar P-sites in the Zone of Interior. … All XD-1 frames have now been delivered. The LRI and output frame3 arrived 29 July.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Tactical Air Control System - 412L Aircraft Warning & Control System". p. 6. Retrieved 2014-05-09. 10 February 62 (U) Installation of mobile CPA-73 started atop Erbeskopf mountain.
  3. 1 2 3 Air Weapons Control System 412L (Report No. 8). ADA 404 448. 1 April 1963 [31 Mar 1961 "OCLC Number 227264414"].
  4. 1 2 NORAD/CONAD Historical Summary: July–December 1958 "FIRE DIRECTION AND CONTROL EQUIPMENT NORAD asked USAF ADC and ARADCOM, in February 1958, to explore the feasibil1ty ot combining the requirements tor antiaircraft fire direction system (for areas without Missile Master) and a SAGE back-up (Mode III) control system for BOMARC. The following June, ADC recommended the AN/GPA-73 to CINCNORAD. The latter expressed dissatisfaction with it because of its impact on the SAGE system. ... BADGE II (GPA-73) ... The BADGE equipment, mentioned above, scheduled for Alaska was to be the AN/GPA-73. ... AAC planned to deploy the AN/GPA-73 components to form the ALSADS in four subsectors: Fire Island, King Salmon, Murphy Dome, and Campion. ... Air Force BADGE (Base Air Defense Ground Environment) equipment for Alaska. On 19 August 1958, USAF advised the Alaskan Air Command that the Office of the Secretary of Defense had approvec the AN/GPA-73 system for Alaska. ...on 26 January 1960, USAF inforrned AAC that because of severe budget limitations, substantial reductions were necessary. This included cancellation of the AN/GPA-73 for Alaska."
  5. ↑ Preface by Buss, L. H. (Director) (1 May 1960). North American Air Defense Command and Continental Air Defense Command Historical Summary: July–December 1959 (PDF) (Report). Directorate of Command History: Office of Information Services.
  6. ↑ http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/465/792.xml AN/GPA-73 MINIATURE SAGE (SEMIAUTOMATIC GROUND ENVIRONMENT)
  7. ↑ Tarbet, Jim (August 2002). "Integrated Fire Control (IFC) Area — Overview: 8. Tactical Headquarters". Ed-Thelen.org. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
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