Cold War Relics
Caribou JSS
The Caribou radome was originally part of the Integrated Fire Control (IFC) system for the Nike Ajax missile site in Connor, ME. Information from this site would have been processed at the Louis Blotner Bomb Scoring site in Connor that over looks the former missile launch magazines. The Caribou radome is only a few miles down the road from both Loring AFB and the Louis Blotner Bomb Scoring site. This is because the Nike missile radar systems worked best with line of sight.
Following closure of the Louis Blotner Bomb Scoring site in 1993, the site was repurposed and reequipped for use as an Air Route Surveillance Radar (ARSR) and became a part of the Joint Surveillance System (JSS). The ARSR4 radar system is very reliable and easy to maintain and offers a coverage area of 250 miles. The ARSR4 utilizes dual frequency hopping technology for anti-jam and search and tracking and is capable of detecting small objects by minimizing clutter, weather and multipath effects. A dual-purpose site, this radar installation aids the FAA in tracking aircraft and the USAF in watching for nuclear threats.
To reach the Caribou JSS site from Bangor, take I95 north to Houlton and then take Route 1 north to Caribou. Pick up 89 east towards Loring AFB and then take Powers Rd (left turn) north to Baird Rd (right turn) east. Albair Rd is about 1000' down on your left. Once you're on Albair Rd, the radome is 1000' up on your right. From the radome's access road, you can get a nice clear view of Loring AFB.
