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AN/GPA-73 Radar Course Directing Group

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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 an air defense command, control, and coordination system of the United States Air Force. It was 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]

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image icon diagram with images of equipment

Description

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

  • AN/GKA-10 & AN/GKA-11 Converter Groups (RCA)
  • AN/GKA-13 Monitor Transmitter Group (RCA)
  • AN/GKA-12 Receiver Group (General Electric Company — Defense Systems Department)
  • Data Processing and Display Subsystem
    • AN/FSA-12 Detector-Tracker Group, Radar
      • OA-3253 Track Data Processor
      • OA-3254 Tracker Auxiliary Unit
      • OA-3255 Digital Tracker
      • OA-3263 Radar Detector
      • OA-1723 Surveillance-Identification Group
      • OA-3102 Surveillance Console
      • OA-3103 Identification Console
      • OA-3217 Radar Data Processor
      • OA-3219 Surveillance-ID Data Converter
    • OA-1724 Site-to-Site Data Link Group
      • OA-3104 Data Link Central
      • OA-3252 Battery Data Link
      • OA-3327 Message Processor
      • OA-3329 Coordinate Converter
    • OA-1718 Height Data Group
      • OA-3208 Height Data Display Converter
      • OA-3209 Height Data Programmer
      • OA-3403 Height Data Console [from "MPS-14 radar"]
      • OA-3403 Height Data Console [from "MPS-16 radar"]
    • OA-3216 Status Display Group
    • OA-3233 Situation Projection Group
  • AN/FSA-21 Weapons Control Group
    • OA-3161 Data Storage Unit
    • OA-3162 Digital Computer
    • OA-3179 (3) Weapons Display Converter
    • OA-3183 (4) Weapons Control Console
    • OA-3180 Computer Auxiliary Unit
    • OA-3210 Ground-to-Air Coupler
    • OA-3264 (2) Core Memory
    • OA-3436 Tape Transport Unit
  • AN/FSA-23 Jammer Tracker Group
    • OA-3223 Azimuth Tracker
    • OA-3224 (2) Jammer Tracker Console
    • OA-3227 Jammer Tracker Display Converter
  • OA-3232 Performance Monitor Group
    • OA-3237 Performance Monitor Console
    • OA-3393 Confidence Indicator Console
    • OA-3422 Performance Monitor Display Converter
    • ID-936 Site Equipment Status Display
    • (Portable) Trouble Analyzer
  • Prime Power Group
    • Power Supply Sets
    • OA-3169 (4) Data Processing Power Supply
  • Communication Subsystem
    • OA-3261 Crosstell Input Group
    • Electronic Switching Center
  • Flight Control Package
    • Subscriber Sets
    • AN/TRC-24
    • R-278
    • R-361
    • T-217
    • BC-639
    • AN/FGC-25
    • AN/FGC-20
  • Ancillary Subsystem
    • Temperature Control Group
  • Data Acquisition Subsystem
    • AN/FSA-31 Radar Signal Processor
    • OA-3247 Comparator
    • OA-3250 Integrator

References

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  1. ^ Biweekly Report for 29 July 1955 (PDF) (minutes). Vol. 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. ^ a b c d "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. ^ a b c Air Weapons Control System 412L (Report No. 8). Vol. ADA 404 448. 1 April 1963 [31 Mar 1961 "OCLC Number 227264414"].
  4. ^ a b NORAD/CONAD Historical Summary: July–December 1958 "FIRE DIRECTION AND CONTROL EQUIPMENT NORAD asked USAF ADC and ARADCOM, in February 1958, to explore the feasibility of combining the requirements for 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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