The Air Force inactivated Antigua Air Station,
which has served as one of the primary range and control instrument sites for
space and launch vehicle tracking support, during a July 7 ceremony on the
island, according to a July 13 USAF
release.
“Mission requirements for space and launch vehicle tracking support were
reviewed, and we discovered that we are able to provide the necessary
capabilities with mission design changes and use of the telemetry system on
Ascension,” said Lt. Col. Steve Melvin, commander of Det. 1. The C-Band Radar
will be relocated to the Harold E. Holt Naval Communications Station in
Australia where it will be integrated into the US Space Surveillance Network.
“The resulting increase in battlespace awareness due to the location in
Australia will provide the warfighter with predictive and actionable
situational awareness through early detection of launches at a lower
inclination than previously available,” added Melvin. The air station cost more
than $10 million US dollars each year to operate, states the release.
