Backup Interceptor Control (BUIC, ) was the Electronic Systems Division 416M System to backup the SAGE 416L System in the United States and Canada. BUIC deployed Cold War command, control, and coordination systems to SAGE radar stations to create dispersed NORAD Control Centers.
+ Back-Up Interceptor Control sites Station Location BUIC I BUIC II BUIC III Baudette AFS Minnesota 1968 Belleville AFS Illinois Blaine AFS Washington Boron AFS California Calumet Air Force Station Michigan yes Cape Charles Air Force Station Virginia ?? Charleston Air Force Station Maine 3/1963 3/1966 12/1969 Fallon Air Force Station Nevada yes Finland AFS Minnesota yes Fortuna AFS North Dakota Fort Fisher AFS North Carolina yes Fort Meade radar station Maryland yes Fortuna Air Force Station North Dakota yes yes Havre AFS Montana yes Hutchinson AFS Kansas Keno AFS Oregon yes Kirksville AFS Missouri Makah AFS Washington until 3/1966 Manassas AFS Virginia Montauk AFS New York yes Mount Laguna AFS California yes North Bend AFS Oregon 12/1962 yes North Truro AFS Massachusetts 1963 9/1965 yes Olathe AFS Kansas Osceola AFS Wisconsin Othello AFS Washington Yes Yes Palermo AFS New Jersey 10/1965 Port Austin AFS Michigan 1965 1968 Rockville AFS Indiana Saint Albans AFS Vermont Saratoga Springs AFS New York until 1965 Tyndall Air Force Base Florida yes yes Watertown AFS New York Waverly AFS Iowa RCAF Station St. Margarets New Brunswick yes yes yes CFS Senneterre Quebec yes
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Background Prior to the SAGE Direction Centers becoming operational, the USAF deployed data link systems at NORAD Control Centers with ground computers for controlling crewed interceptors. After SAGE IBM AN/FSQ-7 Combat Direction Centrals became operational and the Super Combat Centers with improved (digital) computers were cancelled, a backup to SAGE was planned in the event the above-ground SAGE Air Defense Direction Center failed.
General Electric AN/GPA-37 Course Directing Group BUIC began with deployment of General Electric AN/GPA-37 Course Directing Groups to several Long Range Radar stations. Units designated included the "U.S. Air Force 858th Air Defense Group (BUIC) [which became] a permanent operating facility" at Naval Air Station Fallon in Nevada.
BUIC II BUIC II was used to command and control sites using the Burroughs AN/GSA-51 Radar Course Directing Group. North Truro AFS became the first ADC installation configured for BUIC II.
BUIC III The AN/GYK-19 (initially AN/GSA-51A) was an upgraded version of the BUIC II system designated AN/GSA-51A and required a larger building than the AN/GSA-51. The first BUIC III site was Fort Fisher AFS, and Air Defense Command's was first installed at Fort Fisher Air Force Station, North Carolina.
Although more advanced systems were contemplated, the final design of the BUIC III system was an upgraded version of the BUIC II with around twice the performance.
Closure and upgrade In 1972, the USAF decided to shut down most of the BUIC sites; most of the sites mothballed by 1974, except for the BUIC III site at Tyndall Air Force Base. In Canada the BUIC site at Senneterre was shut down, but St Margarets remained open. The remaining sites were closed between 1983-1984 when SAGE was replaced by the Joint Surveillance System.
The AN/FYQ-47 Common Digitizer for the Joint Surveillance System, and the Radar Video Data Processor (RVDP) was a combined system for the Air Force and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), it replaced the SAGE Burroughs AN/FST-2 Coordinate Data Transmitting Sets.
References
External links AN/GSA-51 Back Up Interceptor Control System (BUIC) at Federation of American Scientists Burroughs BUIC - AN/GSA-51 SAGE Backup at Southwest Museum of Engineering, Communications and Computation