BAE Supporting BMEWS Ballistic Missile Warning Radars to 2018
In September 2012, BAE Systems Technology Solution and Services, Rockville, MD received a 6-year, $49.2 million contract modification to manage, operate, maintain and logistically support the Solid State Phased Array Radar Systems (SSPARS). This array is also known as BMEWS, the ballistic missile early warning system of large radar installations developed during the Cold War. The radars themselves are about 11 stories tall, and excel at searching large volumes of sky that extend into space. Each has several transmitter faces, in order to provide wide coverage. BAE has a history of handling these support contracts, alongside firms like ARCTEC. This overall maintenance and support contract is expected to be complete by Sept 30/18, with awards made each year. The 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, CO, who provides missile warning and space control to NORAD and U.S. Strategic Command, manages this contract (FA2517-06-C-8001, PO 0312).
Work would be performed at Cape Cod Air Force Station, MA; Beale Air Force Base, CA+; Thule Air Base, Greenland+; Clear Air Force Station, AK, and Royal Air Force Fylingdales, United Kingdom+. Installations with a + sign have received UEWR upgrades, which also allow them to be used as low-grade targeting radars for ballistic missile defenses. Alaska’s Clear AFS is next. See also BAE’s November 2012 release.
