• Significance: The Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS) was constructed in 1958-61 in response to the threat of a potential Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) attack from the Soviet Union (demonstrated by the October 1957 launch of Sputnik). BMEWS Site II at Clear AFS in Alaska was one of three radar sites (the others were located in Greenland and Britain) that covered the polar regions. Although BMEWS was an expansion of existing radar technology rather than a significant innovation, it represented a major engineering achievement. MBEWS was an important part of the deterrence strategy (Mutual Assured Destruction) developed by both sides in the Cold War. It provided a minimum of fifteen minutes advance warning for a nuclear counterstrike, but not a missile defense. BMEWS remained in operation throughout the remainder of the Cold War, although the technology became increasingly antiquated and difficult to maintain in later years.
• Survey number: HAER AK-30-A
• Building/structure dates: 1958-1961 Initial Construction
• Building/structure dates: 1980 Subsequent Work
• Building/structure dates: 1981 Subsequent Work
• Building/structure dates: 2000 Subsequent Work
• Building/structure dates: 2001 Subsequent Work

Related names:

United States Air Force; Lincoln Laboratory; Systems Research Group; General Electric; Sylvania Electric; Baker Ford; Patti-McDonald; Empire Gas and Engineering; Miller Brothers; Bohannan Huston, Incorporated, contractor; CH2M HILL, contractor; Kaszynski, Gary, project manager