(U) Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA) Long-range Tracking and Identification Radar (ALTAIR)

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)

Overview: (U)
(U) The ALTAIR (Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA) Long Range Tracking and Identification Radar) is an Army operated radar located on the island of Kwajalein  in the western Pacific.  It has two missions, Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) testing in support of  the Western Space and Missile Center (WSMC) and space surveillance.  

Description: (U)
(U)  ALTAIR (Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA) Long Range Tracking and Identification Radar) is a high-resolution radar located at Kwajalein Atoll in the western Pacific that provides precision metric, signature, and imaging for deep-space operations, satellite observations, strategic reentry missions, and multiple-intercept engagement tracking.   ALTAIR is a near earth and deep space tracking radar.   As one of  the three radars composing the Space Surveillance Network, ALTAIR can track one third of the objects in the geosynchronous belt, more than 42,000 tracks per year. The other two radars are the ALCOR (ARPA Lincoln Band Observable Radar) and the TRADEX (Target Resolution and Discrimination Experiment).  ALTAIR is unique because it is the only radar in the Space Surveillance Network with an equatorial location. 

User Impact: (U)
(U) Loss of this capability would have a significant impact on the Space Surveillance Network (SNN).

Programmatics: (U)
(U) Operational.

(U) Organizations and Funding:
	(U) USSPACECOM: Funding Source.

Related Initiatives: (U)
(U) ALCOR, TRADEX

Related Requirements: (U)
(U) None.

Related Categories: (U)
(U) Contibuting Sensors, Radar

Road Map Placements: (U)
(U) SPACE CONTROL: S.S. NETWORK.

Lead Office: (U)
(U) Army.

Date of Information: (U)
17 September 1998

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)