Pacific
Missile Range Facility (PMRF) from www.GlobalSecurity.org
The
Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) is world's largest instrumented,
multi-dimensional testing & training range. PMRF is the only
range in the world where subsurface, surface, air and space vehicles
can operate and be tracked simultaneously. This capability allows
range users extraordinary flexibility in planning and conducting
realistic multi-participant, multi-threat freeplay operations to
train crews, evaluate tactics, and test weapon systems. Western
Kauai is blessed with an ideal climate, averaging 361 sunny VFR
flying days per years.
The mission of the Pacific Missile Range Facility(PMRF) is to facilitate
Training, Tactics Development, and Test & Evaluations for air,
surface, and sub-surface weapons systems and Advanced Technology
Systems. PMRF provides the full spectrum of instrument range support,
including; radar, underwater instrumentation, telemetry, electronic
warfare, target remote command & control, communications, target
launching facilities, data display, data processing and target/weapon
launching and recovery facilities.
The headquarters and primary operation center of PMRF occupies approximately
1800 acres and is located on the western shore of the island of
Kauai. The nearest town, Kekaha, is eight miles to the south and
east. Supporting instrumentation sites at Makaha Ridge and Kokee
Park overlook the vast ocean range areas to the west and north Kauai.
The range encompasses 42,000 sq. miles of sea and air space and
has minimal encroachments. The underwater tracking range extends
over a 1000 sq. miles areas. PMRF features a state of the art instrumentation
suite & communication network.
Lead range in the Pacific for Aegis Combat System Ship Qualification
Training, PMRF puts new Aegis platforms through extensive testing
& training prior to initial deployment. Collocated with the
Sandia National Laboratory Kauai Test Facility, PMRF is the lead
range for launching the Strategic Target System. No other range
has the unencroached geographic expanse necessary to support wide
area defense sensor and cooperative engagement capability testing.
Located in Hawaii on the western shores of the Island of Kauai,
the PMRF range includes broad ocean areas to the north, south, and
west with varying water depths from 400 to 2,500 fathoms. PMRF's
relative isolation, ideal year-round tropical climate, and encroachment-free
environment are significant factors in PMRF's excellent record for
operation completions. PMRF's proximity to major Department of Defense
installations and organizations, and to University of Hawaii ocean
research facilities on Oahu, presents major cost and operational
benefits to the range user. Transportation of project personnel,
equipment, and materials is easily accommodated via commercial or
military systems.
The area surrounding Kauai is divided into warning areas with W-186
and W-188 controlled by PMRF. The Fleet Area Control and Surveillance
Facility (FACSFAC) controls W-187, 189, and 190. Space, air, and
surface tracking are accomplished from PMRF precision-tracking radar
sites at elevations of 75 ft., 1700 ft., and 3800 ft. These are
supported by radar systems operated by agencies external to PMRF.
PMRF has extensive range instrumentation that is primarily used
in the W-186 and W-188 areas, however capability exists to provide
exercise/test support in-port, on-deck, in-transit and in other
operating areas.
The Hawaiian Islands Complex is located in the waters adjacent to
the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Hawaii, and Niihau. Instrumentation
and equipment provided by PMRF are available to conduct in-port,
on-deck, in-transit and range training exercises and tests in R-3101,
W-186, W-188 and elsewhere. The complex is composed of the following
instrumented areas and ranges:
Restricted Area 3101 (R-3101)
Barking Sands Tactical Underwater Range (BARSTUR)
Barking Sands Underwater Range Expansion (BSURE)
Hawaiian Area Tracking System (HATS)
Restricted Area (R-3107), Warning Area 187 (W-187), Kaula Rock
Warning Area 186 (W-186
Warning Area 188 (W-188)
Large Area Tracking Range (LATR)
Shipboard Electronic Systems Evaluation Facility (SESEF)
Non-instrumented
warning areas and special operating areas associated with this complex
are:
Warning Area 189 (W-189)
Warning Area 190 (W-190)
Warning Area 191 (W-191)
Warning Area 192 (W-192)
Warning Area 193 (W-193)
Warning Area 194 (W-194)
Warning Area 196 (W-196)
Echo Area
Uniform Area
The Pacific Missile Range (PMRF) Facility's Large Area Tracking
Range (LATR) system is an offshore, over-the-horizon, time space
position information tracking system. The system supports tactical
training at PMRF Barking Sands, Kauai; Wheeler Army Base, Oahu;
and the 199th Fighter Wing at Hickam Air Force Base, Oahu. This
upgrade uses newer technology that provides live control, in addition
to debriefing capability. LATR integration gives the warfighter
the ability to track and analyze open-ocean "war-at-sea"
scenarios. It tests the combat readiness and battle tactics capabilities
of the combat pilot. The first upgrade was installed at PMRF. The
Navy has the option to upgrade the other LATR sites as well. The
integration was pre-tested at the Oceana TACTS range, and then flown
out to PMRF.
The PMRF Underwater Range consists of a 120-nmi2 area in the channel
between Kauai and Niihau Islands in water depths from 200 to 1,000
fathoms, joining a 900-nmi2 area which extends into the open ocean
north and west of Kauai, with depths from 1,000 to 2,500 fathoms.
Hydrophones connected to the Underwater Data Processing system at
Barking Sands yield 10-ft tracking accuracy throughout the Underwater
Range. Underwater communications are provided through bottom-mounted
transducers.
PMRF facilities on Oahu provide range services to ships and aircraft
operating in the areas off Pearl Harbor, as well as ships in port
and aircraft on the ramp. Operations support services are also provided
in other remote training areas located on neighboring islands in
the Hawaiian chain.
PMRF is capitalizing on new and affordable technologies to improve
existing products, systems, and processes. Using a combinations
of military and commercial communications pathways PMRF is expanding
its inter connectivity with command staffs, test ranges, laboratories,
and simulations facilities worldwide to enable real-time exchange
or sharing of data.
PMRF measurement systems provide the capability to track, surveil,
and collect telemetry from surface, airborne, and space vehicles.
Underwater tracking is accomplished by a bottom mounted hydrophone
array. Tracking and telemetry data is recorded, displayed in a variety
of user formats, and may be electronically transferred in real time
to customer data processing sites. The PMRF local area network utilizes
fiber optic lines to ensure a clean, reliable information exchange.
established connectivity with CONUS ranges, labs and facilities
enables the sharing of data.
PMRF has developed an EW capability for use with all service requirements.
Available ECM and threat emitter systems include land base, portable
mobile, marine, and airborne systems, All combine to provide a multi-axis
multi-threat presentation. PMRF EW assets are available to conduct
in-port, on deck, in-transit, and on-range EW training and testing
in designated areas throughout the state of Hawaii.
PMRF support the full spectrum of subsurface, surface, and airborne
targets. Targets can be specially augmented with flares, emitters,
and reflectors to affect their presentations. PMRF's C-12 aircraft,
H-3 helicopters, Septars, and range boats all perform as cooperative
mobile targets PMRF's helicopter, Septars, and range boats all perform
as cooperative mobile targets. PMRF's helicopters and range boats
perform target launch and recovery functions.
PMRF's Battle Management Interoperability Center (BMIC) contains
the operational systems necessary to communicate and coordinate
the complex activities involved in live fire testing and training.
The BMIC enables a Joint task force Commander to access, display
and disseminate tactical information (via OTCIXS) and Imagery (via
STU III). The BMIC scenario generation system enables the use of
synthetic data to stimulate C3 systems to enhance training realism.
The Pacific Missile Range Facility maintains and operates two contiguous
underwater tracking ranges off the island of Kauai, Hawaii. The
Barking Sands Tactical Underwater Range (BARSTUR) is located west
of the island and consists of 42 bottom-mounted hydrophones which
provide a coverage area of approximately 100 square nautical miles.
The Barking Sands Underwater Range Expansion (BSURE) is located
northwest of the island and consists of 18 hydrophones which provide
a coverage area of 880 square nautical miles.
The PMRF has an acoustic system that uses the BARSTUR hydrophones
for impact detection and scoring. The system is a post exercise,
non-real-time approach that uses tape recorded hydrophone data.
The data from several hydrophone channels are replayed on an oscillograph
recorder. By visual inspection, the impact transient signals are
distinguished from reverberation, extraneous noise, and non-impact
related events. Time differences of arrival of the impact between
pairs of hydrophones are measured manually and input to a computer
program which calculates the impact location.
In response to technical requirements, PMRF listed mines, sonobuoys,
air-launched torpedoes, vertical launch antisubmarine rockets (ASROC),
and naval gunfire as the types of impacts. In addition, PMRF provides
a number of other special applications for transient and continuous
wave (CW) pulse type signals, where their existing detection and
location system has been used in the past, but either a fully or
semiautomated system would be more timely and productive. These
include generating fixes on Dukane pingers; detecting and locating
a torpedo end-of-run squib for torpedo recovery; B-52 bomb scoring;
UQC and transponder surveys; tracking active sonobuoys; determining
splash point and squib firing posits for a rocket assisted penetrator;
and determining the depth of implosion for certain devices. The
PMRF did not provide inputs on the area of coverage and accuracy;
however, it is presumed that the required area is consistent with
the present tracking coverage at BARSTUR which is approximately
100 square nautical miles. Similarly, it is presumed that the required
accuracy is consistent with that attained with the NGSS which is
±5 to ±10 yards.
With the exception of naval gunfire which requires a fully automated,
real-time system, PMRF would prefer a semiautomated, near real-time
system for the other applications, because the acoustic impact signature
may not always be known in some cases. Ideally, the signals from
several hydrophones would be provided on a monitor where an analyst
would select the impact transients to be used in the position solution.
This desired approach is similar to the system presently in use
at the AUTEC.
Range Control and the Operation Control Centers are in the Barking
Sands operations area, one-half mile from the main gate. Tracking
and surveillance radars, data processing, and the communication
network hut are included in the operations area. A target support
and red-label area is a mile north of the main gate, with the PMRF
ordnance and launching area farther to the north. Airfield facilities
in the main area of Barking Sands are capable of supporting up to
and including C5-type cargo aircraft, tactical aircraft, and helicopters.
Range support aircraft include six UH-3A helicopters which are used
for surveillance, personnel transfer, logistics, target launch,
and weapon/target recovery; and two RC-12F fixed-wing aircraft for
range surveillance, electronic warfare, and logistics.
A benefit to range users is that range support from external agencies,
including the following, is coordinated through the PMRF Program
Manager.
The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) maintains a facility at
PMRF and a detachment at Waianae, Oahu, to provide Mk-30 underwater
target services, exercise reconstruction, and range pinger installation
services.
Sandia National Laboratories operates the Kauai Test Facility (KTF)
for the Department of Energy and, through inter-Service Support
Agreements (ISSA), provides PMRF with rocket launch services for
target systems and upper atmosphere measurements. PMRF/KTF is recognized
in the ABM Treaty as an authorized site from which launches of the
STARS missile can be conducted. Environmental documentation is in
place for a number of operational launch scenarios.
The Sandia Maui Haleakala Facility, linked to PMRF via leased circuits,
provides telemetry receiving/recording, flight following, command
control and flight termination systems for high-altitude/exoatmospheric
launches from PMRF, and for high-altitude operations which traverse
the Hawaiian Island chain.
The Air Force Maui Optical Station (AMOS), the Maui Optical Tracking
and Identification Facility (MOTIF), and the Ground-based Electro-optical
Deep Space Surveillance System (GEODSS), are located at the Maui
Space Surveillance Site (MSSS) atop Mount Haleakala, provide a unique
vantage point for observing sub-orbital vehicles.
The Hawaii Air National Guard provides O&M of the Hawaii Digital
Microwave System (HDMS). The Hawaii Tracking Station, located at
Kaena Point, Oahu, provides real-time telemetry data to PMRF via
the HDMS. The 30th Range Squadron at Kaena Point provides metric
and signature tracking data from their FPQ-14 radar via the HDMS.
Wheeler Network Communications Control (WNCC) is a major communications
hub for PMRF. Voice and data signals are relayed through the HDMS
to the WNCC from Mount Kaala, and are further distributed to other
military and commercial communications networks. Hawaiian Telephone
Company provides a dedicated T1 data link on the FTS2000 network
from Barking Sands to AT&T on Oahu which provides CONUS interconnectivity
to the Naval Warfare Assessment Division (NWAD), Corona, California.
This link provides the capability for data reduction at NWAD and
for nationwide video teleconferencing.
Since 1958, PMRF has performed over 6000 major training and T&E
operations. Over the years customers have included all the services
of the United States Military, many agencies of the Department of
Energy & NASA, and many university & contractor research
and development programs. United States allies such Australia, Japan,
Canada, and the Republic of South Korea utilize PMRF for a variety
of training and T&E operations.
For almost every aspect of Hawaiian life, there is a legend to explain
the subject, but there is not always an explanation of the legend
itself. Some have to be taken on faith. So it is with the Legend
of Barking Sands. At a time long ago, an old Hawaiian fisherman
lived in a hut near the beach with his nine dogs. During his fishing
trips he would tie his dogs to stakes in the sand, three to each
of three stakes. He would then get into his canoe and go fishing.
One day while he was at sea and the dogs were tied as usual, he
was caught in a very bad storm. For hours he battled the heavy seas
until he was finally able to return to land. He was so exhausted
that he crawled into his hut, forgetting to untie the dogs. When
he awoke the next morning and went outside, the dogs were nowhere
in sight. All he saw were three small mounds of sand where the dogs
had been tied. As he stepped on one of the mounds, he heard a low
bark. Another step brought another bark, still he couldn't find
the dogs. Believing the dogs had been buried in the sand because
of the storm, the fisherman began to dig. As each shovelful was
removed, more sand took its place. He finally gave up, and every
day after that when he crossed the beach he could hear the low barking.
The dogs were never found and to this day the sands of Mana have
been known as the Barking Sands. After a time, the old fisherman
died, some say from a broken heart for losing his dogs. Time passed,
and in 1921, the land area known as the Barking Sands was acquired
by the Kekaha Sugar Company from the Knudsen family. On occasion
private planes would land and take off from the grassy field used
for pasture.
In 1932, an Australian named Kingsford Smith made a historic flight
from Barking Sands to Australia in a Ford Trimotor. Local people
assisted him by clearing the runway area, filling holes, and marking
the runway with flags at 1,000-foot intervals and whitewash at 500-foot
intervals. The Kekaha Sugar Company brought fuel for his plane in
barrels.
In 1940, the U.S. Army acquired 549 acres of land, including the
grass landing field by Executive Order of the Territory Governor,
Charles Hite. The Installation became known as "Mana Airport,"
and the Army paved the runway and made other building improvements.
The only money involved in the transfer was $1,000 for administrative
expenses.
In June 1941, additional acreage was transferred to the Army bringing
the total land area to 2,058 acres. Hawaiian Airlines used the field
for passenger stops, and Pan American Airlines made occasional landings
at the field until Lihue Airport was completed in 1949. Barking
Sands experienced very heavy military traffic during World War II,
and a series of land transfers and easements caused continual changes
in the total real estate assigned to the installation. Many name
changes also followed: Mana Airport, Mana Airfield Military Reservation,
Barking Sands Military Reservation, Kekaha Military Reservation,
Barking Sands Airfield, Bonham Airfield, Bonham Air Force Base,
Bonham Air Base, and Auxiliary Landing Field (ALF) Bonham.
In 1948, the Air Force Chief of Staff declared that Barking Sands
Military Reservation was of no further use and that action would
be taken to declare the base excess, with the concurrence of the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Department of Air Force disapproved
the recommendations and action was taken to acquire an additional
200 acres adjacent to Barking Sands, and in 1954 the name of the
base was officially changed to Bonham Air Force Base.
The Navy's introduction to Barking Sands (Bonham AFB), was in 1956
when the Air Force granted a five year revocable joint utilization
license to use 37 acres for Regulus I operations. Two years later,
in November 1958, the Pacific Missile Range Facility was formally
established with a PMR Representative Office at Kaneohe MCAS on
Oahu. Meanwhile, the Navy was becoming the principal user of Bonham
AFB, later called ALF Bonham, and formal negotiations began to transfer
the base to the Navy. In 1962, the Pacific Missile Range Facility,
Hawaiian Area was officially commissioned under a Commanding Officer.
In 1963 a detachment was established at Johnston Atoll.
In 1964, negotiations were completed, and ALF Bonham officially
transferred 1,885 acres of Barking Sands to the Navy. In 1966, Barking
Sands was transferred within the Navy to the Commanding Officer,
Pacific Missile Range, and renamed, "Pacific Missile Range
Facility, Barking Sands." By this time, PMR had established
a chain of stations throughout the Pacific. Besides Barking Sands
and Kokee, several downrange stations under PMR included South Point,
Hawaii; Midway Island; Wake Island, Eniwetok Atoll; Tern Island;
Christmas Island; Canton Island; and the recovery ships, USNS Longview
and USNS Sunnyvale.
In 1967, the Barking Sands Tactical Underwater Range (BARSTUR),
and the Makaha Ridge Instrumentation Site, were completed. In 1968,
the Command Headquarters, Pacific Missile Range Facility, Hawaiian
Area was established at Barking Sands.
Facility improvements and expansions followed through 1974, and
due to changing requirements and for more effective management and
support, most of the "downrange" facilities were closed
or transferred.
Kauai is pronounced ka-WAH-ee with the accent on the "wai"
and a glottal break between the last two syllables (as in Ha'wai'i).
A general translation of the word Kauai is "time of plenty"
or "fruitful season." Know as the Garden Island, Kauai
is famous for its flowering shrubs, vines and trees that grace the
countryside year round with a beautiful background of every shade
of green imaginable. Mount Waialeale, "Rippling Water,"
rising to 5,170 feet at Kawaikini Peak in the very center of the
island, is the wettest spot on earth with 465 inches of annual rainfall,
and is the source of Hawaii's only navigable rivers.
The beautiful Mount Waialeale also inspired the island's ancient
name, "Kauai-a-mamo-ka-lani-po" which means "The
fountainhead of many waters from on high and bubbling up from below."
Kauai is also a land of contrasts with the startling rocky grandeur
of Waimea Canyon, the virgin purity of Killable Valley, where wild
cattle, goats, pigs and deer graze, the sunny desert warmth of the
west side, and on the north shore, beautiful Lumahai Beach, known
to many as Bali Hai in the movie "South Pacific." Geologically,
Kauai is believed to be the oldest of the inhabited Hawaiian Islands,
being the first of a chain of volcanic mountains to erupt from the
sea and the first to become extinct. Historically, it is also the
oldest of the group. Archaeological findings indicate that Kauai
was probably inhabited over 1,000 years before Captain Cook's landing
in Waimea on January 19, 1778. Kauai is the northernmost of the
inhabited islands that make up the state of Hawaii, and is located
95 miles northwest of Oahu. It is roughly circular in shape, with
a diameter of 32 miles and and area of 55 square miles. Kauai of
today is a modern community with a population of approximately 55,000.
Kauai's major industries are agriculture and tourism. The island
produces one third of Hawaii's sugar crop. Much of the processing
is mechanized, but the island's sugar plantations still employ many
island residents. Cattle roam several large ranges and numerous
smaller ones. Hogs and chickens are raised and marketed.
On Kauai, as in all of Hawaii, the tourism industry is increasing
rapidly. Four major resort areas with their corresponding hotels,
shops, restaurants and recreational facilities employ many island
residents. Hawaii's cost of living is higher than that of most mainland
areas, especially for housing and food. Some food items may be cheaper
than on the mainland, but for the most part, transportation costs
from the west coast represent the major cost difference. A new world
of eating awaits you in Hawaii, inspired by the mixed ethnic background
of the residents, Filipino, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese and Hawaiian
dishes are common. Most vegetable and fruits can be grown here with
relative ease. Garden enthusiasts thus have an excellent opportunity
to shrink their grocery bills considerably. Mangoes, papaya, bananas,
plums, guavas, lilikoi (passion fruit), coconuts and other fruits
grown wild on the island, providing an additional no-cost food source
and many delightful new tastes.
The Legend of Barking Sands; There was an old Hawaiian fisherman
who lived in a hut near the beach with his nine dogs. During his
fishing trips he would tie his dogs to stakes in the sand, three
to each of three stakes. He would then get into his canoe and go
fishing. One day while he was at sea and the dogs were tied as usual,
he was caught in a very bad storm. For hours he battled the heavy
seas until he was finally able to return to land. He was so exhausted
that he crawled to his hut, forgetting to untie his dogs. When he
awoke the next morning and went outside, the dogs were nowhere in
sight. All he saw were three small mounds of sand where the dogs
had been tied. As he stepped on one of the mounds, he heard a low
bark. Another step brought another bark, Still he couldn't find
the dogs. Believing the dogs had been buried in the sand because
of the storm the day before, the fisherman began to dig. As each
shovel full was removed, more sand took its place. He finally gave
up, and every day after that when he crossed the beach he could
hear the low barking. The dogs were never found, and to this day
the sands of Mana have been know as Barking Sands. The scientific
explanation of this phenomenon is that the grains of Mana sand are
tinny, hollow spheres. When rubbed together, the give off a popping
sound similar to the barking of dogs. This only occurs when the
sand is very dry. Wet sand gives off almost no sound.
