Allied Command Europe Highband

File:Radio Relay Station Former USAF microwave relay station ACE-High system at Lefkada, Greece, photo 6.JPG

Billboard type troposcatter antennas

File:Abandoned Tropospheric Scatter Dishes - geograph.org.uk - 150323.jpg

Troposcatter dish array formerly at RAF Stenigot

File:Tropo Scatter Microwave System Antenna.jpg

Dish type microwave antennas for mobile troposcatter communication

Allied Command Europe Highband, better known as ACE High, was a fixed service NATO radiocommunication and early warning system dating back to 1956. After extensive testing ACE High was accepted by NATO to become operational in 1964/1965.

The frequency supportability and frequency assignments were provided in accordance with the NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA). The system was designed to be a combined UHF troposcatter/microwave radio system, providing long-range communications in the form of telephone, telegraph and data traffic in the NATO chain of command.^[1]

Its combined services produced over 200 channels and equipment was in place to multiplex them to contain up to 12 different calls each. There used to be 49 troposcatter links augmented by 40 line-of-sight Microwave terrestrial stations, located in nine different NATO countries from northern Norway through central Europe to eastern Turkey. The transmitters broadcast at 832.56 - 959.28 MHz producing an average transmitting power of 10 kilowatts.^[2]

History

NATO was established in 1949 with a supreme command (SHAPE) near Versailles, France, and the regional headquarters (RHQ) Allied Forces Northern Europe (AFNORTH) at Kolsås, Norway (responsible for Denmark, Norway and the UK), Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT) at Laffaux, France (responsible for Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands) and Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH) at Naples, Italy (responsible for Italy, Greece and Turkey). Supreme command, the three RHQ's and all subordinate units used various communication systems to establish contact: high frequency radio networks, VHF transmitters and civil or military landlines. All systems had their weakness in equipment reliability, maximum amount of data transferred, encryption possibilities and unauthorized data interception. So in the early 1950s, there existed an urgent need for a reliable, foolproof, long distance European communication network.

US developed tropospheric diffusion techniques, integrated in a new military communications network, appeared to be the solution and in 1956 STC, a planning, design, engineering and installation company was ordered to develop a new integrated communications network in Europe. This network consisted of a number of "backbone" stations covering a 6,800 km (4,200 mi) path from northern Norway to southern Turkey and was initially called the "Over the Horizon Troposperic scatter Communications Net," but was renamed "Allied Command Europe - Highband" (ACE-High). The network was kept operational until the 1990s when all frequency allocations had to be released to civilian authorities.

After all components were installed at their locations by Marconi Electronic Systems, UK in 1961, (from 1968, part of General Electric Company) the ACE-High system was officially transferred to NATO.

In 1966, France, under president Charles de Gaulle, withdrew from NATO integrated military structure (not from the Alliance itself) and systems had to be rerouted from France to Brunssum, Netherlands while the former Primary Control Center at Beauvais, was relocated to Lamersdorf, West-Germany.

In the early 1970s, the first geostationary satellites in the "Satellite Communication" network (SATCOM) were activated, thus expanding the ACE-High system.

The rise of the military SATCOM I-III (1971–1994), SATCOM IV (1995-now) network satellites, Internet routers, and the Central Region Integrated Communication System (CRICS) and the Crisis Response Operations in NATO Operating Systems (CRONOS) made ACE High obsolete. By the end of the 1980s, its replacement was already available but NATO postponed the ACE High phase-out until 1995.^{[citation needed]}

In 1995, the first British NATO SATCOM IV/B satellites were activated and because the ACE-High frequencies had to be released for civil TV and mobile phone usage, NATO decided to deactivate ACE-High in 1996, and the frequencies in the 800 MHz band became available for civilian use again.^{[citation needed]}

ACE High sites

Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as KML

The ACE High network included the following major sites and terminals, but also connected Line of Sight (LOS) microwave links to other networks reaching C2 centres not listed here.^[3]

AFNORTH-Norway

(NC- Senja) > NSEZ

Pos Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. TX RX Equipment:1 Scatter Line + 2 Radio Line

(nca - Höggumpen) > NHGZ

Pos Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 502 m TX RX Equipment:1 Radio Line

(ND- Bodö) > NKLZ

Pos Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 801 m TX RX Equipment:2 Scatter Line + 1 Radio Line

(nda - Bodoe Tail - Kletkov) > NVAZ Pos unbekannt

TX RX Equipment:1 Radio Line

(NE - Mosjöen) > NMOZ

Pos Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 627 m TX RX Equipment:2 Scatter Line

(NF - Trondheim) > NSBZ

Pos Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 677 m AMSL TX RX Equipment:2 Scatter Line + 1 Radio Line

(nfa - Trondheim Tail - Graakallen)

Pos Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 543 m AMSL TX RX Equipment:1 Radio Line

(NG - Oslo AAA) > NSOZ

Pos Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 246 m TX RX Equipment:2 Scatter Line + 1 Radio Line

(Oslo YYY - Svartas) > NVAZ

Pos Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. TX RX Equipment:3 Radio Line

(nga - Oslo Tail 01 - Kolsaas) > NKOZ

Pos Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. TX RX Equipment:1 Radio Line

(ngb - Oslo Tail 02 - Maakeroy) > NVEZ

Pos Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 14 m TX RX Equipment:1 Radio Line

(NH - Grimstad - Stormyrheia/hørte) > NSMZ

Pos Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 326 m TX Rx Equipment:3 Scatter Line

(NJ - Sola - Lysenut) > NLYZ

Pos Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 792 m TX RX Equipment:2 Scatter Line

AFNORTH-Denmark

(DA - Karup - Torphøj) > DTOZ

Pos Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 135 m TX RX Equipment:2 Scatter Line + 1 Radio Line

(daa - Karup Tail - Lundbakke) > DLUZ

Pos Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 68 m TX RX Equipment:1 Radio Line

AFNORTH-United Kingdom

(EAA - Faroes - Sandfelli 2)
(EA - Shetlands - Mossy Hill) > UMSZ - Mossy Hill > Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 227 m AMSL
(eab - Shetlands Tail Relay - Collofirth Hill) > UCOZ - Collafirth Hill > Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 239 m AMSL
(eac - Shetlands Tail - Saxa Vord) USVZ - Saxa Vord Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 276 m AMSL
(EB - Aberdeen - Mormond Hill) > UMOZ - Mormond Hill Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 227 m AMSL
(eba - Aberdeen Tail - Long Haven Hill) > UBUZ - Long Haven Hill Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 95 m AMSL
(EC - Boulmer - Brizlee Wood) > UBOZ - Brizlee Wood Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 250 m AMSL
(ED - Binbrook - Stenigot) > UBIZ - Stenigot Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 153 m AMSL
(EE - London - Coldblow Lane) > UMAZ - Coldblow Lane Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 194 m AMSL
(eeb - London Tail Relay - Woldingham - RAF Botley Hill Farm)
(eea - London tail - Hillingdon)
RAF Uxbridge – local terminus

AFCENT-France

(FAN - Paris - Mont Florentin) FFLZ - Paris North Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 222 m AMSL
FTAZ - Taverny Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 178 m AMSL
(fac - Paris Tail (2)- Sant Germain) Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 71 m AMSL
(fae - Paris Tail (2) - Extension (SHAPE) Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 178 m AMSL
(fa - Relais Paris - Emeville) FEMZ - Emeville Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 247 m AMSL
(faa - Paris Tail (1) - Laffaux) Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 143 m AMSL
(fad - Relay Paris - Rozoy Bellevalle) FRBZ - Rozoy Bellevalle Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 219 m AMSL
(FAS - Paris - Mont Aout) FAOZ - Paris South Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 216 m AMSL
(FA - Trier - Rohrbach) FROZ - Rohrbach Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 376 m AMSL
(fay - Trier Tail - Kindsbach) ABHZ - Kindsbach Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 458 m AMSL
(FC - Lyon - Pierre sur Haute) FLYZ - Lyon Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 1632 m AMSL
(FD - Nice - Signal de la Chens) FNIZ - Nice Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 1703 m AMSL

AFCENT-Netherlands

HBRZ - Brunssum Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 95 m AMSL TX equipment 1S + 1R
HMAZ - Maastricht Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 82 m AMSL TX equipment 1S +2R

AFCENT-Belgium

BADZ - Adinkerke
BCAZ - Casteau Supreme HQ Allied Powers Europe Pos Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 87 m AMSL TX Equipment 2S +2R
BCHZ - Chievres Pos Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. TX Equipment 2S +2R
BFRZ - Baraque de Fraiture Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 654 m AMSL TX Equipment 3R

AFCENT-Germany

ABHZ - Kindsbach Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 458 m ü. NN
(AA - Emden - Aurich) AEMZ - Aurich Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 10 m ü. NN
(AB - Moenchengladbach - Roetgen) ALAZ -Lammersdorf Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 593 m ü. NN
(abb - Moenchengladbach Tail (1) - Hehn) AHEZ - Hehn Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 81 m ü. NN
(aba - Moenchengladbach Tail (2) - Millen) Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 151 m ü. NN
(abc - Uedem) AUEZ - Uedem Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 47 m ü. NN
AFEZ - Feldberg Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 1458 m ü. NN

AFSOUTH-Italy

IDGZ - Dosso dei Galli Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 2174 m AMSL
IVTZ - Verona Tail ( im West Star Bunker ) Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 334 m AMSL
(IA - Livorno - Monte Giogo) IMXZ - Livorno Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 1496 m AMSL
(IAZ - Cavriana - Monte Bosco Scuro) IMBZ - Cavriana Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 189 m AMSL
(iaa - Verona Torre 4) Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 164 m AMSL
(IAY - Lame - Cavanella) ICEZ - Lame Concordia Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 7 m AMSL
(iax - Aviano) IAVZ - Aviano Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 99 m AMSL
(IB - Rome - Tolfa) ITLZ - Rome Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 621 m AMSL
(iba - Rome Tail - Monte Cavo) IMCZ - Monte Cavo Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 930 m AMSL
(IC - Naples - Ischia - Punta Fetto) IICZ - Naples Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 639 m AMSL
(ica - Naples Tail - Monte Pecorara) IPEZ - Monte Petrino Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 335 m AMSL
(icy - Monte Vergine) IMNZ - Monte Nardello Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 1516 m AMSL
(icz - Monte Vulture) IVUZ - Monte Vulture Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 1301 m AMSL
(icv - Monte Iacontenente) IIAZ - Monte Iacontenente Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
(icf - Pietra Ficcata) IPFZ - Pietra Ficcata Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 586 m AMSL
(icw - Martina Franca) IAMZ - Martina Franca Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
(ID - Catanzaro - Monte Mancuso) IMMZ - Catanzaro Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 1319 m AMSL
(IDA - Monte Lauro - Cozzo tre Grotte) ICCZ - Monte Lauro Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 944 m AMSL

AFSOUTH-Malta

(idb - Malta - Gharghur) IDBZ - Malta - Gharghur

AFSOUTH-Greece

(GA - Kefallina) > GKFZ - Kefallonia Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 1001 m AMSL
(GB - Athens - Pendelikon) > GPKZ - Athens Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 1038 m AMSL
(GBZ - Crete - Ziros) > GZIZ - Ziros Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 786 m AMSL
(GBY - Larissa - Phillon) > GPIZ - Phillon Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 1513 m AMSL
(GBW - Vitsi) > GVIZ - Vitzi Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 2009 m AMSL
(GBV - Ismaros) > GISZ - Ismaros Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 612 m AMSL

AFSOUTH-Turkey

(TA - Izmir - Bespinar Tepes) > TBPZ - Izmir - Bespinar Tepes Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 964 m AMSL
(taa - Izmir Tail) > TKYZ - Izmir Tail
(TB - Eskisehir) > TKUZ - Eskishir - Kutahya Dagi Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 1820 m AMSL
(tba - Eskirsehir Tail) > TESZ - Eskirsehir Tail
(TC - Ankara) > TEDZ - Ankara - Elan Dagi Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 1856 m AMSL
(TCK - Merzifon) > TKJZ - Merzifon
(TCW - Persembe) > TPEZ - Persembe
(TCV - Pazar) > TPAZ - Pazar
(TD - Kayseri - Pinarbasi) > TPIZ - Pinarbasi Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 2285 m AMSL
(TG - Adana) > TDDZ - Davudi Dağı Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 515 m AMSL
(tga - Adana Tail) > TDAZ - Adana Tail
(TE - Dyarbakir - Karaka Dagi) > TDIZ - Dyarbakir - Karaka Dagi
(tea - Dyarbakir Tail) > TDEZ - Dyarbakir Tail
Bloatli, Turkey

AFSOUTH-Cyprus

(TCZ - Cap Greco) > JCGZ -Cavo Greko Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. 62 m AMSL

Equipment used^[4]^[5]

Initially, 60, 30 or 15 ft dish or planar antennas were used in combination with General Electric or RCA AN/MRC80 TRC24; AN/FRC-75 or 39 radio sets. Later replaced by newer Siemens & Halske EM 120/400 and 12/800 types. The type and beam angle of the antennas depended of the local site position and its distance to the next relay.

References

^ http://archives.nato.int/uploads/r/nato-archives-online/0/7/8/0780e4a143f64cb3103978c2bcabc8cddcc409cce87a25584765d522d816a1c2/MCWM-077-66_ENG_PDP.pdf NATO UNCLAS Memorandum MCWM -77-66
^ ACE HIGH. SCALE OF THE SYSTEM, Andy Emmerson, 2003 Subterranea Britannica:
^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
^ Communications-electronics Reference Data, Volume 24,#19
^ Operator's, Organizational, Direct Support, General Support, and Depot Maintenance TM's 11-5820-203-15 and 11-5840-401-12

External links

[1] ttp://archives.nato.int/uploads/r/nato-archives-online/0/7/8/0780e4a143f64cb3103978c2bcabc8cddcc409cce87a25584765d522d816a1c2/MCWM-077-66_ENG_PDP.pdf NATO UNCLAS Memorandum MCWM -77-66

[2] ACE HIGH. SCALE OF THE SYSTEM, Andy Emmerson, 2003 Subterranea Britannica:

[3] Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

[4] Communications-electronics Reference Data, Volume 24,#19

[5] Operator's, Organizational, Direct Support, General Support, and Depot Maintenance TM's 11-5820-203-15 and 11-5840-401-12

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Allied Command Europe Highband

Contents

History

ACE High sites

See also

References

External links

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Allied Command Europe Highband

History

ACE High sites

See also

References

External links

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