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10th Space Warning Squadron [10th SWS]

The 10th Space Warning Squadron, Cavalier Air Station, ND, 15 miles south of the Canadian and U.S. border, keeps watch for sea-launched and intercontinental ballistic missiles launched toward North America. The squadron is a geographically separated unit of the 21st Space Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, CO.

The 10th Space Warning Squadron provides tactical warning and attack assessment of sea-launched and intercontinental ballistic missiles launched against the continental United States and southern Canada. The squadron tracks the skies using the Perimeter Acquisition Radar Characterization System single-faced phased array radar. Missile warning data and assessment information is sent to the North American Aerospace Defense Command missile warning center at Cheyenne Mountain AS, CO. Additionally, the 10th SWS provides surveillance, tracking and space object identification support for the space surveillance network.

The 10th SWS is tasked with:

• Providing tactical warning and attack characterization of a sea-launched ballistic missile attack against the continental ballistic missile attack against the same area;
• Providing warning and characterization of intercontinental ballistic missile attack against the same area;
• Supporting the space surveillance network by providing space surveillance data, tracking, reporting and space object identification;
• Maintaining and operating the Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System.

Approximately 27 military and six civil service people are permanently assigned to the 10th SWS. Sixteen of the military members are assigned to the operations directorate, which is responsible for the Missile Warning Operations Center where missile warning and spacetrack missions are performed. The remainder of the assigned military and civilian workers provide the quality assurance evaluation of various contracted functions of the unit. There are also approximately 120 contract workers at the unit who provide such services as fire protection, law enforcement, custodial care, operations, maintenance and supply.

The unit was originally the acquisition radar portion of the United States' only operational anti-ballistic missile system, know as SAFEGUARD. Due to the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (SALT II), components of the SAFEGUARD complex, with the exception of the PARCS radar at Cavalier Air Force Station, were deactivated in February 1976.

The forerunner of the present day 10 SWS began passing tactical warning and attack assessment data to Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Base, CO, in January 1977. In December 1979 the unit was transferred from Aerospace Defense Command to Strategic Air Command.

The unit joined Air Force Space Command in 1983 as Detachment 5, 1st Space Wing. On August 1, 1986, the unit was redesignated as the 10th Missile Warning Squadron, 1st Space Wing. It was renamed the 10th Space Warning Squadron on May 15, 1992, when the 1st Space Wing and 3rd Space Support Wing were inactivated and the 21st Space Wing was activated.