16th Space Control Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 16th Space Control Squadron


caption= 16th SCS emblem
dates= 1966-1993; 2007-Present
country= United States
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branch= United States Air Force
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garrison= Peterson AFB
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The United States Air Force's 16th Space Control Squadron is an Air Force Space Command unit located at Peterson AFB, Colorado and assigned to the 21st Space Wing. The 16th SPCS operates the Rapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting System, or RAIDRS.

Mission

The 16th SPCS is AFSPC's first defensive counterspace unit. The unit is responsible for operating space control capabilities to rapidly achieve flexible and versatile space superiority in support of theater campaigns and USSTRATCOM's Space Superiority mission.

To achieve this, 16th SPCS operates the RAIDRS Central Operating Location.

History

16th SPCS was activated in November 1966 as the 16th Surveillance Squadron, Shemya AFS, Alaska, under Air Defense Command. The unit mission was to operate the Cobra Dane long-range early warning radar system, used to track Soviet missile launches. It was assigned to the 73d Aerospace Surveillance Wing in January 1967 and then to the 14th Aerospace Force in April 1971.

The unit was again reassigned in 1983, this time to the 1st Space Wing as one of the original squadrons in the newly established Air Force Space Command. In 1991, it was assigned to the 73rd Space Surveillance Group. In 1992, the unit was designated the 16th Space Surveillance Squadron. The unit was inactivated in 1993.

The unit was reactivated at Peterson AFB in May 2007 under the 21st Space Wing to operate the RAIDRS defensive counterspace system.

Previous designations

* 16th Space Control Squadron (2007-Present)
* 16th Space Surveillance Squadron (1992-1993)
* 16th Surveillance Squadron (1966-1992)

Bases stationed

* Peterson AFB, Colorado (2007-Present)
* Shemya AFS, Alaska (1966-1993)

ystem Operated

* RAIDRS (2007-Present)
* AN/FPS-108 Cobra Dane (1976-1993)

External links

* [http://www.peterson.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=8403 Peterson AFB: 16th SCS Factsheet]