This short video clip from
A 20-Year History of the Antiballistic Missile Program
gives an overview of Safeguard operation:
wmv 01:25
(320 x 240 =
hi-res 7.81m)
(320 x 240 =
lo-res 2.61m)
005019
(Following description adapted from
Bell System Technical Journal: Safeguard Data-Processing System, "Introduction and Overview")
The Safeguard system consisted of three major subsystems:
missiles, radars, and data processing and control. Incoming inter-continental ballistic
missile (ICBM) warheads, after being detected and tracked by the radars, were to be intercepted
and destroyed by defensive missiles. The radars and defensive missiles were controlled
by the data processing system.
Two types of interceptor missiles were used: Spartan for long range attack before the threatening ICBM
warheads re-entered the atmosphere, and Sprint for short range "close in" attack of targets that survived
Spartan intercept. Both used nuclear warheads to destroy their targets.
The Perimeter Acquisition Radar (PAR) site utilized a large single-face phased array radar to
provide early detection and trajectory data on threatening ICBM's.
Functions of this site included long range surveillance, detection,
and target selection of threatening objects, and ICBM threat tracking for Spartan intercept.
This last capability significantly increased the long range Spartan field of fire. The PAR site
did not perform missile guidance.
The Missile Site Radar (MSR) installation used the target trajectory and
classification data from the PAR along with additional data supplied by its multiface phased array radar.
This site provided additional surveillance and target tracking and also performed the function of track and
guidance for the Sprint and Spartan missiles.
Both PAR and MSR sites reported to the Ballistic Missile Defense Center (BMDC), a central command center.
The BMDC provided a command interface with other military systems and a means of disseminating command
directives and controls.
The PAR and MSR radars were controlled by the data processing systems, collocated with the
radars. At the PAR and MSR sites, application programs performed surveillance, tracking, target
classification, radar management and testing, intersite communication, and display functions.
Additional application programs at the MSR supported the battle management and missile guidance
functions. The BMDC data processing system primarily contained display and
command/control programs.
Spartan launchers were located only at the MSR site. Sprint launchers were located at the MSR site
and at four geographically dispersed Remote Sprint Launch (RSL) sites. The RSL's were
designed (along with Sprint's ultra fast acceleration) to minimize fly out time during the short
period available for Sprint intercepts.
