The 11th Air Force of the US Air Force (English Eleventh Air Force - 11 AF) is responsible for the inviolability of the US air borders in the polar latitudes. 11 AF's duties include, among other things, patrolling the Bering Sea area, radar surveillance of the Russian Far East, and intercepting Russian long-range bombers.
F-22A of the 90th Fighter Squadron from the 3rd Wing (3 WG) accompanies the Russian Tu-95MS near the island of Nunivak
Direct interception of air targets is assigned to the F-22A of the 90th Fighter Squadron and the 525th Fighter Squadron, as well as the F-16C / D of the 354th Fighter Wing. F-22A fighters are permanently stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, and F-16C / D at Eilson Air Force Base in central Alaska, near the town of Erbans.
Areas of responsibility of regional commands NORAD
Elmendorf Air Force Base is the headquarters of the 11th Air Force and the Alaska Sector NORAD (ANR). Elmendorf Air Base is the main base in Alaska. Here, in addition to fighters, military transport and AWACS E-3C Sentry aircraft of the AWACS system are based. There are 30 E-3C aircraft in operation in the United States. Of these, 4 aircraft are based at Elmendorf AFB, the rest are assigned to Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City.
Satellite image of Google earth: F-22A fighters at Elmendorf airbase
Serial production of all variants of the E-3 Sentry ended in the early 90s. A total of 68 aircraft were built. The most perfect modification is the E-3C. This aircraft is capable of patrolling 1,600 km for 6 hours without refueling in the air. The detection range of air targets is more than 400 km.
Satellite image of Google earth: AWACS aircraft E-3C at Elmendorf airbase
During the Cold War, in order to compensate for the lost capabilities in terms of long-range radar detection, after the abandonment of radar patrol ships, "Texas Towers" and the constant many-hour watch of AWACS aircraft, over-the-horizon radars were developed. The deployment of the AN / FPS-118 ZG radar (414L system) in the interests of the Air Force began in the late 80s on the West and East coasts of the United States. However, due to the decrease in the threat of global war, low noise immunity and high operating costs (up to $ 1.5 million per year) in the second half of the 90s, they decided to abandon the ZG radar AN / FPS-118.
However, the history of the US radar station in the United States did not end there. The US Navy has adopted an alternative system - AN / TPS-71 ROTHR (relocatable over-the-horizon radar) with a detection range of air and surface targets from 1000 to 3000 km. Experimental station AN / TPS-71 in 1991 was built on the Amchik island of the Aleutian archipelago, not far from Alaska. This MH radar was intended to monitor the eastern coast of Russia. According to some reports, due to the identified shortcomings, it was dismantled in 1993.
Satellite image of Google earth: ZG radar AN / TPS-71 in Corpus Christi
The second AN / TPS-71 was installed in Corpus Christi, Texas. The third US radar station operates near Portsmouth in New Hampshire. The main purpose of the AN / TPS-71 stations is to control illegal crossing of the US border in order to suppress the illegal import of drugs. The location of the over-the-horizon radars makes it possible to view the airspace over Central America and the Caribbean. Currently, the construction of another ZG radar station in Puerto Rico has been completed, which will allow a glimpse into South America.
In the past, the E-2 Hawkeye and E-3 Sentry AWACS were used to prevent drug smuggling into the United States. However, the constant patrolling of the Sentry was too expensive, and the Hokai, in addition to the fact that they had insufficient flight duration for this, were extremely reluctant to allocate the command of the Navy.
For this reason, US Customs has ordered four P-3B AEW Sentinels. This AWACS aircraft was created by Lockheed on the basis of the P-3V Orion patrol aircraft. The P-3 AEW Centinel has an AN / APS-138 radar from an E-2C aircraft. AWACS aircraft are used to detect, escort and coordinate actions when intercepting aircraft carrying illegal drugs. For these purposes, the so-called "Double Eagle" system is used, consisting of a P-3B AEW aircraft and interceptors. This role can be played by F-16С / D, F-15 С / D fighters belonging to the Air Force or the National Guard, as well as naval F / A-18s.
Satellite image of Google earth: P-3В AEW and P-3CS aircraft at Cesil Field airfield
Several more anti-submarine Orions have been modified into the P-3CS Slick variant to control US airspace in order to prevent illegal delivery of cargo by light aircraft. This modification has become a cheaper alternative to the P-3 AEW. An AN / APG-63 radar is mounted in the bow of the P-3CS. The same airborne radar station was installed on F-15 fighters. The AN / APG-63 radar has a fairly high capability to detect smuggler aircraft flying at low altitude. Several more Orions have APG-66 and AN / AVX-1 radars. In addition, the P-3B AEW and P-3CS aircraft received radio equipment operating on the frequencies of the US Customs Service and the US Coast Guard. P-3B AEW and P-3CS radar aircraft and F / A-18 fighters are permanently based at Corpus Christi airfields in Texas and Cecil Field in the vicinity of Jacksonville, Florida.
US AWACS planes of the Customs Service regularly make "business trips" to Central America as part of drug trafficking operations. They were repeatedly spotted at airfields in Costa Rica and Panama. Acting from there, they controlled the flights of light aircraft from Colombia.
In 1999, during a military exercise in the area of Fort Stewart (Georgia), a tethered balloon radar system JLENS (Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System), developed by Raytheon, was tested …
At the first stage of development, it was assumed that the balloon system would not only become an inexpensive alternative to AWACS aircraft, but would also be able to "highlight" low-altitude air targets when anti-aircraft missiles were launched at them. It also provided for the creation of "combat" balloons with air-to-air missiles AIM-120 AMRAAM and guided bombs with developed aerodynamic surfaces and a miniature jet engine. According to representatives of the Raytheon company, such a bomb dropped from a balloon could hit a target at a distance of 40-50 km.
According to the developer's information, the JLENS complex will be able to monitor the airspace around the clock from an altitude of 4500 meters for 30 days. To perform such a task, at least 4-5 AWACS aircraft are required. The operation of radar balloon posts is 5-7 times cheaper than the operation of AWACS aircraft with similar characteristics, and also requires half the number of maintenance personnel. During the tests, the system demonstrated the ability to detect air targets at a distance of more than 500 km, and mobile ground targets - 200 km. In addition to radars, balloons can carry optoelectronic surveillance equipment.
The system is based on a 71-meter helium balloon, target detection and tracking radar, communication and information processing equipment, as well as aerostat lifting and maintenance facilities. The JLENS system includes special meteorological sensors that allow operators to early warn operators of deteriorating weather conditions in the area of the balloon deployment. The carrying capacity of the balloon when lifting to a working height of 4,500 m is about 2,000 kg.
The received radar information is transmitted via a fiber-optic cable to the ground processing complex, and the generated target designation data is delivered to consumers via communication channels. The deployment of the JLENS balloon radar system began in 2014. In total, it is planned to order 12 balloons with a set of radar and communication equipment and ground service facilities with a total value of $ 1.6 billion.
In the first half of the 80s, in the southeastern regions of the United States, in the interests of the US Border and Customs Services, the deployment of the Tethered Aerostat Radar System (Tethered Aerostat Radar System) began.
Google earth satellite image: radar observation balloon in Cujo Cay, Florida
The balloon is 25 meters long and 8 meters wide as a payload with a mass of 125 kg is carried by the AN / APG-66 radar with a detection range of up to 120 km. This radar was originally used on F-16A / B fighters. The TARS balloon can be operated in horizontal winds up to 90 km / h. Filled with helium, it is capable of staying at an operating altitude of 2700 meters continuously for two weeks.
The balloons are launched from a round platform with a mooring facility and an electric winch with a total cable length of 7600 meters. In total, 11 positions for the TARS system were equipped in the USA and Puerto Rico. However, due to the dramatically changing weather conditions, several balloons were lost. As of 2003, 8 balloons were in operation. Until 2006, the airborne radar posts were operated by the United States Air Force. After the military refused them, the balloons were handed over to the American Customs Service. After hiring civilian specialists, the cost of operating the balloon fleet dropped from $ 8 million to $ 6 million a year.
Google earth satellite image: radar observation balloon in Puerto Rico
Beginning in the late 90s, TARS balloons began to be replaced by devices of the LASS system (Low Altitude Surveillance System). An AN / TPS-63 radar with a detection range of 300 km and optoelectronic tracking systems for earth and water surfaces are mounted on a Lockheed Martin 420K balloon.
Balloon radar systems, created as a means of detecting cruise missiles that break through at low altitudes, are not yet in demand in the air defense of North America. The main reason for this is the high sensitivity of tethered balloons to weather conditions. The main sphere of application of radar balloon posts was the control over illegal crossing of the US-Mexican border and the suppression of drug trafficking.
By the beginning of the 21st century, the performance of the North American air defense system was provided by several hundred ground-based radars, and formally, air defense missions could be performed by up to 1000 fighters. However, the events of September 11, 2001 demonstrated that the American part of NORAD is in deep crisis. The air defense forces of the most militarily powerful state then were unable to prevent air attacks from airliners hijacked by terrorists. The prerequisites for this arose back in the early 90s, when, in connection with the collapse of the USSR, the confrontation between the two superpowers ceased.
In the mid-90s, a dramatic reduction in American air defense forces began - by 2001, all anti-aircraft artillery systems, as well as most of the air defense systems, were removed from service. The number of interceptors on duty in the continental United States has also been drastically reduced. As a result of a number of radical reductions, by the fall of 2001, only the fighters of the US National Guard and the Canadian Air Force remained in the air defense of the North American continent.
Until September 11, 2001, no more than six interceptors carried no more than six interceptors on alert in 15-minute readiness for departure throughout the continent. And this despite the fact that by 2001, compared with the end of the 80s, the intensity of flights over the United States increased by about 2 times. The events of September 11 put the NORAD system in a situation that was not only not envisaged in the combat algorithms and sequences of actions, but was never played during the staff training of the aviation and radar units on duty. Black Tuesday demonstrated that a decaying system designed to prevent intrusions from outside has failed to cope with the emerging terrorist threat. Therefore, it was subjected to serious reform.
As a result of the reorganization and the infusion of budgetary funds, the combat readiness and the number of air defense forces on duty have significantly increased. Despite the considerable costs, regular patrol flights of AWACS AWACS aircraft were resumed. The number of interceptors on duty at air bases has tripled. Currently, thirty air bases are involved in ensuring the protection of US airspace (against seven on September 11, 2001), of which eight are in a state of constant readiness.
8 squadrons, including 130 interceptors and 8 E-3C aircraft, are on constant combat duty every day. In connection with the terrorist threat, a new procedure has been introduced for making a decision on the destruction of aircraft hijacked by terrorists. At the moment, not only the American president is responsible for this; in emergency situations, the command can be given to the commander of the continental air defense region.
The layout of the radar (blue diamonds) and storage bases of the air defense missile system (red squares) in the United States
At the same time, in the United States, unlike Russia, there are practically no medium and long-range air defense systems that carry constant combat duty, their deployment is provided only in crisis situations. In service with the anti-aircraft units of the US Army there are more than 400 MIM-104 Patriot air defense systems of the PAC-2 and PAC-3 modifications, as well as about 600 short-range air defense systems M1097 Avenger. Some of this equipment is in storage at the military bases Fort Hood and Fort Bliss. The rest of the complexes are scattered around the world to protect the forward American bases.
Satellite image of Google earth: "Patriot" launcher at the storage base in Fort Bliss
The only anti-aircraft complex that is constantly on alert in the United States is the American-Norwegian NASAMS air defense system. After the events of September 11, 2001, two batteries of the Avenger air defense system were deployed in Washington not far from the White House. However, this was more of a psychological measure, since a short-range military complex using light Stinger missiles to defeat air targets is hardly capable of knocking down a multi-ton dive jet airliner from its “combat course”. At the same time, the American administration, for a number of reasons, considered the deployment of Patriot long-range air defense systems in Washington unacceptable. A compromise was the adoption and deployment of three NASAMS SAM launchers at stationary positions in the vicinity of Washington.
The AN / MP-64F1 radar of the NASAMS air defense system with a detection range of air targets of 75 km is located in the center of Washington on a guarded helipad. Three launchers are located at a distance of 20 km from the detection radar. Due to the separation of the launcher, a large affected area is achieved.
The layout of the NASAMS air defense missile system around Washington
The development of this complex from 1989 to 1993 was carried out by the American Raytheon and the Norwegian Norsk Forsvarteknologia. As a means of destruction in the NASAMS air defense system, AIM-120 AMRAAM aircraft missiles are used. Initially, the complex was created to replace the Improved Hawk air defense system and the developers hoped to be adopted by the United States. However, due to the end of the Cold War, no large-scale orders followed.
PU SAM NASAMS at Andrews airbase in the vicinity of Washington
SAM NASAMS is able to effectively deal with maneuvering aerodynamic targets at medium altitudes, at a distance of 2.5-25 km, and an altitude of 0.03-16 km, which allows you to shoot down an intruder even before he approaches the White House.
In terms of cost and operating costs, the NASAMS air defense system looks much more advantageous compared to the Patriot air defense system. In the United States, there were voices among congressmen about the need to cover other vital or potentially dangerous objects with anti-aircraft systems, which are constantly on duty. But for financial reasons, this was rejected.
Despite the reform and some increase in combat readiness, the North American air defense system is subject to justified criticism from a number of American experts. The current airspace control system makes it possible to monitor all movements of large aircraft, reacting to any change in their course, especially when approaching restricted areas. Over the past few years, hundreds of such deviations have occurred, which in some cases led to the announcement of increased combat readiness and the rise of interceptors into the air. At the same time, the situation with flights of private planes that do not make regular flights is not amenable to control. There are more than 4,500 thousand small private airfields operating on the territory of the United States, which are practically not controlled by federal structures. According to various sources, they are used by 26 to 30 thousand different flying aircraft, including jet ones. Of course, these are not huge passenger or transport airliners, but they can also cause serious damage if they fall into the wrong hands. In the United States, in addition to large military facilities, administrative and industrial centers, spaceports and nuclear power plants, there are a large number of hydraulic dams, oil refineries and chemical plants, an attack against which by "air kamikaze" even on a light aircraft can lead to very serious consequences.
