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With a constant threat of ballistic missile launches by North
Korea, the Army maintains forward Army Navy/Transportable Radar
Surveillance Systems, or (AN/TPY-2 ) on mainland Japan to keep a
watchful eye above the skies scanning for threats.
The
responsibility in keeping a watchful eye falls to a small group of
Soldiers stationed in remote areas at Kyogamisaki, and Shariki,
Japan. The location of the two radar sites are unique in that it
provides regional defense for Japan while also significantly
improving the defense of the United States.
The Soldiers in
these units operate high resolution, phased array, X-band radars
designed and built specifically for the U.S. missile defense
missions. The radars can perform air surveillance to very high
altitudes, identify and track aerial targets including incoming
ballistic missiles. The radar also has the ability to differentiate
between warheads or space debris.
The 10th Missile Defense Battery located at the Shariki
Communications Site in Shariki have been operational since 2006.
This was the first AN/TPY-2 Radar installation in Japan and also the
first new U.S. military installation to open there since the end of
World War II.
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September 14, 2017 - Soldiers from the 94th Army Air Missile Defense
Command, attached to the 613th Air Operations Center Pacific Air
Forces, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam track a ballistic missile
that was launched from North Korea. (U.S Air Force photo by Staff
Sgt. Perry Aston)
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The AN/TPY-2 radar is integrated with the Terminal High
Altitude Area Defense, or (THAAD) system, and serves as its
primary sensor. The radar' mission is to track the late
stages of the missile course enabling the THAAD’s capability
to intercept both outside the atmosphere and once a reentry
vehicle enters the atmosphere.
The 14th Missile
Defense Battery is the newest radar unit located at the Kyogamisaki Communications Site and has been operational
since October 2014. Since then, both units have been in the
constant watch with recent events in the Korean peninsula.
Their mission is to pass highly accurate missile
track data to sensor managers in the Air and Space
Operations Center, located at Joint Base Pearl
Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii and sensor mangers throughout the
United States.
“We provide the strategic level early
warning for all ballistic missiles launched from North Korea
that have the potential to impact the United States
homeland,” said 1st Lt. Seth Bond. 14th Missile Defense
Battery executive officer.
The information received
by the AN/TPY-2 radar is critical data.
Both units
also works closely with the 100th Missile Defense Brigade
based in Colorado Springs, Colorado feeding data and cueing
various radar sensors throughout US Army Strategic Command
and PACOM.
Data collected and shared with joint and
allies, provides early warning and detection of hostile
missile launches as part of the United States Pacific
Command missile early warning architecture and greatly
enhances the defense of U.S. Pacific Command assets and the
continental United States.
“This information cues the
various sensors located throughout the Pacific to ensure any
intercept vehicle will accurately engage the warhead,” he
added.
Once a detection of a possible threat has been
detected, either through space based, naval, or elevated
sensors, Soldiers from the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense
Command can either engage the threat or, if capable, pass
the engagement to an assets that is able to range the
target.
“The 14th MDB has successfully tracked and
processed all ballistic missile launches originating from
North Korea,” said Bond. “The unit is extremely efficient
and we provide updates to entities across USARJ, PACOM,
STRATCOM and NORTHCOM.”
With the increase of threats
from North Korea the Soldiers from the 10th MDB and 14th MDB
remain focus as being our nations “First Line of Defense.”
By U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Claudio Tejada
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2018
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