14th Test Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 14th Test Squadron is a United States Air Force
unit located at Schriever Air Force Base
, Colorado
. It is an Air Force Reserve
unit that augments the 17th Test Squadron
. The squadron is responsible for testing and evaluating space systems and associated support equipment. The unit was originally established in 1972 as the 14th Missile Warning Squadron. The missile
warning squadron was an active duty unit that operated early warning radar
s at eight locations around the United States
until it was deactivated in 1980. The squadron was reactivated and given its current space test mission in 2000.
s and sea-launched ballistic missiles
. The squadron was also responsible for tracking satellite
s that passed over the United States.
The squadron operated radars at eight geographically separated locations around the United States. The radar sites began operating in the mid-1960s under other command elements, but were brought together into one squadron when the 14th Missile Warning Squadron was established in 1972. Seven of the sited operated the AN/FSS-7 missile warning radar (also known as a Fuzzy-7 radar), a modified version of the AN/FPS-26 height-finder radar
. One radar site (Moorestown) operated a prototype AN/FPS-49 missile-warning radar. The 14th Missile Warning Squadron was inactivated in 1980.
by testing and evaluating space assets. To accomplish this, unit personnel provide long-term continuity and technical expertise to active duty test managers conducting operational tests on new space systems. The squadron also supports specific test operations at Cheyenne Mountain
and information assurance testing throughout Air Force Space Command.
from 1 October 1976 to 30 November 1979. Finally, it was assigned to 42nd Air Division
within the Strategic Air Command
from 1 December 1979 until the unit was inactivated on 1 October 1980.
The squadron headquarters was originally at Laredo Air Force Base
, Texas
. It was located there from 8 July 1972 until at least 1 January 1974. It may have remained at Laredo until mid-1975; however, the actual departure date is unknown. In 1975, the squadron’s headquarters was moved to MacDill Air Force Base
, Florida
. The headquarters was located at MacDill from 30 June 1975 until the unit was inactivated.
The 14th Missile Warning Squadron's eight detachments were located along the east and west coasts of the United States. The warning radars were at:
The squadron has three flights that provide operational test and evaluation support to Air Force Space Command and major commands.
. To accomplish this, unit personnel provide long-term continuity and technical expertise to active duty test managers conducting operational tests on new space systems. The squadron also supports specific test operations at Cheyenne Mountain
.
The 14th Test Squadron is an Air Force Reserve squadron. The unit supports its active duty counterpart, the 17th Test Squadron
. The two units cooperate on many test efforts, providing senior Air Force leaders with an independent assessment of new space systems. Since the acquisition process for space systems can take several years, reservists from the 14th Test Squadron provide continuity to long-term test and evaluation programs.
The 14th Test Squadron is located at Schriever Air Force Base
, Colorado
. The squadron is assigned to the 310th Space Wing
. The squadron has three flights. The Weapons and Surveillance Flight is located at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colorado. Its personnel test the Integrated Tactical Warning and Attack Assessment System, which provides real-time threat information to the National Command Authority
. The Information Assurance Flight is located at Schriever Air Force Base. The flight conducts information assurance assessments of space systems. Its personnel use their expertise in networking, operating systems, databases, and information assurance controls to identify space system vulnerabilities for Air Force Space Command. The Evaluation and Assessment Flight is also located at Schriever Air Force Base. It supports rapid delivery of new space systems. The flight uses non-traditional management techniques to help expedite the delivery of space assets.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit located at Schriever Air Force Base
Schriever Air Force Base
Schriever Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force located approximately 10 miles east of Peterson AFB near Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States.-Overview:...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. It is an Air Force Reserve
Air Force Reserve Command
The Air Force Reserve Command is a major command of the U.S. Air Force with its headquarters at Robins AFB, Georgia.It stood up as a major command of the Air Force on 17 February 1997....
unit that augments the 17th Test Squadron
17th Test Squadron
The 17th Test Squadron is a United States Air Force test and evaluation unit, located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. 17 TS is tasked with testing and evaluating space systems and associated support equipment.-Mission:...
. The squadron is responsible for testing and evaluating space systems and associated support equipment. The unit was originally established in 1972 as the 14th Missile Warning Squadron. The missile
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
warning squadron was an active duty unit that operated early warning radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
s at eight locations around the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
until it was deactivated in 1980. The squadron was reactivated and given its current space test mission in 2000.
Cold War
The 14th Missile Warning Squadron was established on 17 April 1972 and activated on 8 July 1972. The unit was assigned to the 14th Aerospace Force. Its primary mission was detecting and tracking intercontinental ballistic missileIntercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
s and sea-launched ballistic missiles
Submarine-launched ballistic missile
A submarine-launched ballistic missile is a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead that can be launched from submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles each of which carries a warhead and allows a single launched missile to...
. The squadron was also responsible for tracking satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
s that passed over the United States.
The squadron operated radars at eight geographically separated locations around the United States. The radar sites began operating in the mid-1960s under other command elements, but were brought together into one squadron when the 14th Missile Warning Squadron was established in 1972. Seven of the sited operated the AN/FSS-7 missile warning radar (also known as a Fuzzy-7 radar), a modified version of the AN/FPS-26 height-finder radar
Avco AN/FPS-26 Radar
The AN/FPS-26 Radar was a height finder radar used by the United States Air Force Air Defense Command. It was an early application of a concept called "Frequency Diversity", which took advantage of a tunable output power device to allow the radar operator to easily and quickly change the frequency...
. One radar site (Moorestown) operated a prototype AN/FPS-49 missile-warning radar. The 14th Missile Warning Squadron was inactivated in 1980.
Today
The mission of the 14th Test Squadron is to enhance warfighting capabilities of Air Force Space CommandAir Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command is a major command of the United States Department of the Air Force, with its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. AFSPC supports U.S. military operations worldwide through the use of many different types of satellite, launch and cyber operations....
by testing and evaluating space assets. To accomplish this, unit personnel provide long-term continuity and technical expertise to active duty test managers conducting operational tests on new space systems. The squadron also supports specific test operations at Cheyenne Mountain
Cheyenne Mountain
Cheyenne Mountain is a mountain located just outside the southwest side of Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S., and is home to the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station and its Cheyenne Mountain Directorate, formerly known as the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center .Throughout the Cold War and...
and information assurance testing throughout Air Force Space Command.
Cold War
The 14th Missile Warning Squadron was assigned to the 14th Aerospace Force from 8 July 1972 to 30 September 1976. It was then assigned to Aerospace Defense CommandAerospace Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1946 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the integrated air defense system of the Continental United States , exercise direct control of all active...
from 1 October 1976 to 30 November 1979. Finally, it was assigned to 42nd Air Division
42d Air Division
The 42d Air Division was a unit of the United States Air Force. It was established as the 42 Bombardment Wing on 8 February 1943. The wing first saw combat in September 1943. It was inactivated in 1991.-History:...
within the Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
from 1 December 1979 until the unit was inactivated on 1 October 1980.
The squadron headquarters was originally at Laredo Air Force Base
Laredo Air Force Base
Laredo Air Force Base is an inactivated United States Air Force near Laredo, Texas. First activated in 1942 as Laredo Army Airfield, the facility instructed recruits in aerial gunnery during World War II, then as a United States Air Force base in the 1950s and 1960s, performed Undergraduate Pilot...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. It was located there from 8 July 1972 until at least 1 January 1974. It may have remained at Laredo until mid-1975; however, the actual departure date is unknown. In 1975, the squadron’s headquarters was moved to MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base is an active United States Air Force base located approximately south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The headquarters was located at MacDill from 30 June 1975 until the unit was inactivated.
The 14th Missile Warning Squadron's eight detachments were located along the east and west coasts of the United States. The warning radars were at:
- Detachment 1 was located at MoorestownMoorestown Township, New Jersey-Demographics:At the 2000 census, there were 19,017 people, 6,971 households, and 5,270 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,287.3 per square mile . There were 7,211 housing units at an average density of 488.1 per square mile...
, New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. It was activated on 8 July 1972. The detachment operated AN/FPS-49 prototype radar; maintained by RCARCARCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
under contract to the Air Force. It was inactivated on 31 March 1975.
- Detachment 2 was located at Mount Hebo Air Force Station, OregonOregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. It was activated on 8 Jul 1972. The detachment operated a AN/FPS-26A radar modified to AN/FSS-7 radar. It was inactivated on 15 September 1980.
- Detachment 3 was located at Mill Valley Air Force StationMill Valley Air Force StationThe AN/FPS-107 search radar operated with a 360° continuous spin, at a rate of 5 rotations per minute. It transmitted ten megawatt pulses of radio frequency energy, with each pulse having a duration of six microseconds. It had a detection range of 250 miles, up to an altitude of 100,000 feet...
, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It was activated on 8 July 1972. The detachment operated a AN/FPS-26A radar modified to AN/FSS-7 radar. It was inactivated on 15 September 1980.
- Detachment 4 was located at Mount Laguna Air Force StationMount Laguna Air Force StationMount Laguna Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located north-northeast of Tecate, California...
, California. It was activated on 8 July 1972. the detachment operated a AN/FPS-26A radar modified to AN/FSS-7 radar. It was discontinued on 15 September 1980.
- Detachment 5 was located at Fort Fisher Air Force StationFort Fisher Air Force StationFort Fisher Air Force Station was a US Air Force installation located on the Atlantic coast southwest of Kure Beach, North Carolina. Its primary mission was as a radar complex...
, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. It was activated on 8 July 1972. The detchment operated a AN/FPS-26A radar modified to AN/FSS-7 radar. It was discontinued on 1 July 1980.
- Detachment 6 was located at Charleston Air Force StationCharleston Air Force StationCharleston Air Force Station is a defunct Air Force Station that operated from the 1952 until 1980. It was located in Charleston, Maine. It is the site of a radar station and other buildings. It was redeveloped into the a jail for the state of Maine....
, MaineMaineMaine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. It was activated on 8 July 1972. The detchment operated a AN/FPS-26A radar modified to AN/FSS-7 radar. It was discontinued on 1 July 1980.
- Detachment 7 was located at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. It was activated on 8 July 1972. The detchment operated a AN/FPS-26A radar modified to AN/FSS-7 radar. It was discontinued on 31 August 1980.
- Detachment 8 was located at Laredo Missile Tracking Site, Texas. It was activated on 8 July 1972. The detachment operated an AN/FSS-7 radar which was installed in its final configuration. The radar was not modified from a previously installed AN/FPS-26. It was discontinued on 30 June 1975.
Today
The 14th Test Squadron is an Air Force Reserve squadron. Its personnel augment the 17th Test Squadron, its active duty counterpart unit. The two units cooperate on many test and evaluation efforts, providing senior Air Force leaders with an independent assessment of new space systems. Since the acquisition process for space systems can take several years, reservists from the 14th Test Squadron provide program continuity. Reservists also bring unique expertise and extensive experience to complex test and evaluation programs they support.The squadron has three flights that provide operational test and evaluation support to Air Force Space Command and major commands.
- The Weapons and Surveillance Flight is located at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colorado. Its personnel test the Integrated Tactical Warning and Attack Assessment System, which provides real-time threat information to the National Command AuthorityNational Command AuthorityNational Command Authority is a term used by the Department of Defense of the United States of America to refer to the ultimate lawful source of military orders. The NCA comprises the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense jointly, or their duly deputized successors, i.e...
. This flight directly supports the homeland defense mission of North American Aerospace Defense CommandNorth American Aerospace Defense CommandNorth American Aerospace Defense Command is a joint organization of Canada and the United States that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and defense for the two countries. Headquarters NORAD is located at Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado...
and the United States Northern CommandUnited States Northern CommandUnited States Northern Command is a Unified Combatant Command of the United States military. Created on 1 October 2002 in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 attacks, its mission is to protect the United States homeland and support local, state, and federal authorities...
.
- The Information Assurance Flight is located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. The flight conducts information assurance assessments of space systems. Its personnel use their expertise in networking, operating systems, databases, and information assurance controls to identify space system vulnerabilities for Air Force Space Command units.
- The Evaluation and Assessment Flight is located at Schriever Air Force Base. It supports rapid delivery of new space systems. The flight uses innovative non-traditional management techniques to help expedite the delivery of space assets.
Redesignation
On 1 October 2000, the Air Force reactivated the unit as the 14th Test Squadron. The mission of the 14th Test Squadron is to test and evaluate of space assets for Air Force Space CommandAir Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command is a major command of the United States Department of the Air Force, with its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. AFSPC supports U.S. military operations worldwide through the use of many different types of satellite, launch and cyber operations....
. To accomplish this, unit personnel provide long-term continuity and technical expertise to active duty test managers conducting operational tests on new space systems. The squadron also supports specific test operations at Cheyenne Mountain
Cheyenne Mountain
Cheyenne Mountain is a mountain located just outside the southwest side of Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S., and is home to the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station and its Cheyenne Mountain Directorate, formerly known as the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center .Throughout the Cold War and...
.
The 14th Test Squadron is an Air Force Reserve squadron. The unit supports its active duty counterpart, the 17th Test Squadron
17th Test Squadron
The 17th Test Squadron is a United States Air Force test and evaluation unit, located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. 17 TS is tasked with testing and evaluating space systems and associated support equipment.-Mission:...
. The two units cooperate on many test efforts, providing senior Air Force leaders with an independent assessment of new space systems. Since the acquisition process for space systems can take several years, reservists from the 14th Test Squadron provide continuity to long-term test and evaluation programs.
The 14th Test Squadron is located at Schriever Air Force Base
Schriever Air Force Base
Schriever Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force located approximately 10 miles east of Peterson AFB near Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States.-Overview:...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. The squadron is assigned to the 310th Space Wing
310th Space Wing
The 310th Space Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command Tenth Air Force. It is a tenant unit at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo....
. The squadron has three flights. The Weapons and Surveillance Flight is located at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colorado. Its personnel test the Integrated Tactical Warning and Attack Assessment System, which provides real-time threat information to the National Command Authority
National Command Authority
National Command Authority is a term used by the Department of Defense of the United States of America to refer to the ultimate lawful source of military orders. The NCA comprises the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense jointly, or their duly deputized successors, i.e...
. The Information Assurance Flight is located at Schriever Air Force Base. The flight conducts information assurance assessments of space systems. Its personnel use their expertise in networking, operating systems, databases, and information assurance controls to identify space system vulnerabilities for Air Force Space Command. The Evaluation and Assessment Flight is also located at Schriever Air Force Base. It supports rapid delivery of new space systems. The flight uses non-traditional management techniques to help expedite the delivery of space assets.
Lineage
- Established as the 14th Missile Warning Squadron on 17 April 1972
- Activated on 8 July 1972
- Inactivated on 1 October 1980
- Redesignated as the 14th Test Squadron on 10 March 2000
- Activated on 1 October 2000
Assignments
- 14th Aerospace Force, 8 July 1972 to 30 September 1976
- Aerospace Defense CommandAerospace Defense CommandAerospace Defense Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1946 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the integrated air defense system of the Continental United States , exercise direct control of all active...
, 1 October 1976 to 30 November 1979 - 42nd Air Division42d Air DivisionThe 42d Air Division was a unit of the United States Air Force. It was established as the 42 Bombardment Wing on 8 February 1943. The wing first saw combat in September 1943. It was inactivated in 1991.-History:...
, 1 December 1979 to 1 October 1980 - 310th Space Group, 1 October 2000 to present
Headquarters
- Laredo Air Force Base, Texas, 8 July 1972 until at least 1 January 1974 (however, the actual departure date is unknown)
- MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, 30 June 1975 to 1 October 1980
- Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, 1 October 2000 to present
Awards
The squadron has been awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award three times. All three awards were received while the unit was the 14th Missile Warning Squadron.See also
- 17th Test Squadron17th Test SquadronThe 17th Test Squadron is a United States Air Force test and evaluation unit, located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. 17 TS is tasked with testing and evaluating space systems and associated support equipment.-Mission:...
– Active duty counterpart to 14th Test Squadron - Mount Hebo Air Force Station - Detachment location
- Mill Valley Air Force StationMill Valley Air Force StationThe AN/FPS-107 search radar operated with a 360° continuous spin, at a rate of 5 rotations per minute. It transmitted ten megawatt pulses of radio frequency energy, with each pulse having a duration of six microseconds. It had a detection range of 250 miles, up to an altitude of 100,000 feet...
- Detachment location - Mount Laguna Air Force StationMount Laguna Air Force StationMount Laguna Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located north-northeast of Tecate, California...
- Detachment location - Fort Fisher Air Force StationFort Fisher Air Force StationFort Fisher Air Force Station was a US Air Force installation located on the Atlantic coast southwest of Kure Beach, North Carolina. Its primary mission was as a radar complex...
- Detachment location - Charleston Air Force StationCharleston Air Force StationCharleston Air Force Station is a defunct Air Force Station that operated from the 1952 until 1980. It was located in Charleston, Maine. It is the site of a radar station and other buildings. It was redeveloped into the a jail for the state of Maine....
- Detachment location - List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations