Gap Filler Detail

1960 – National Archives of Canada

SECRET

S0-136-80/5 TD 9343 (AMTS)

(June 10th 1960)

MEMORANDUM

Deputy Minister

Pinetree Extension
Gap Filler Radar Stations

The accompanying memorandum to the Minister with attached Treasury Board submission seeks approval to construct 35 Gap Filler Radar Stations at sites and estimated costs as follows:

The Cabinet at a meeting on 9 Dec 58 accepted the cost sharing proposal for the joint USA/Canada Air Defence Programme (ground). This proposal requires Canada to pay for all construction and unit equipment, and the USA to pay for all technical equipment.

Implementation of the joint programme necessitates the construction of the following installations in Canada:

1. A Super Combat Centre

2. Seven Prime Radars

3. SAGE Annex and GATR buildings at 21 existing prime radar sites

4. 45 Gap Filler Radar Sites

The provision of Gap Fillers in support of the Pinetree chain is necessary to facilitate the full exploitation of the Air Defence weapons by reducing the lower limit of the radar coverage provided by the prime radar from 5000' to 2000' above ground.

The cost estimates as reflected in para 1 are based on consultants reports and include radar and tower buildings, tower foundations, site development, access roads, fencing, and services such as power generators, water, sewage and fuel. These costs in most cases are considerably less than the preliminary cost estimate of $250,000 which was used during the initial cost sharing negotiations between the USA and Canada. At sites wher the cost exceeds $250,000 the increase can be attributed to terrain difficulties or the need to construct a lengthy access road. Access roads are required to facilitate construction and permit periodic maintenance and inspection although the Gap Fillers are unmanned.

The attached submission seeks authority to construct 35 Gap Fillers at estimated costs as shown. The remaining 10 sites will be the subject of a further submission when preliminary surveys have been completed. The sites marked with an asterisk in para 1 are five of the six Gap Fillers which were approved in the 1959/60 Construction Programme. Preliminary engineering studies have shown that the funds (shown in brackets) approved for these sites are inadequate to carry out the construction required. It is expected that the sixth approved site will be similiarly affected. For this reason, we are asking that the approval given for the six Gap Fillers in the 1959/60 Programme be cancelled.

The CADIN (Continental Air Defence Integration North) programme requires all Gap Fillers to become operational during the period Apr 62 to Dec 62. Approximately six months is required for equipment installation and integration testing before they become operational. Immediate approval of these facilities is required, therefore, if operational dates are to be met.

(JA Easton) A/V/M
AMTS
22743

SECRET

S10-136-80/5 TD 9343 (DCEC)

MEMORANDUM

June 8th, 1960

Minister

Pinetree Extension
Gap Filler Radar Stations

The attached Treasury Board submission seeks authority to construct 35 Gap Filler Radar Stations at a total estimated cost of $7,667,000.

The Cabinet on 9 Dec 58 accepted a cost sharing proposal for the Joint United States/Canada Air Defence Programme (ground) whereby Canada would carry out and pay for all construction in Canada, while the United States would pay for all technical equipment. The joint programme contained the SAGE, (SCC), seven heavy radars, saging and GATR's for 21 existing radars, and 45 gap fillers, six of which were approved in the 1959/60 programme at a total estimated cost of $649,000.

Detailed engineering studies have revealed the present estimated cost of the approved sites to be lower than the average cost used in the preparation of the United States/Canada cost sharing proposal but are, nevertheless, higher than the amounts approved in the 1959/60 programme. For this reason we are requesting that the approval given in the 1959/60 programme for the six gap fillers be cancelled, and five of the six marked with an asterisk in Appendix "A" to the attached submission be reconsidered with 30 of the 39 gap fillers approved by the Cabinet on 1 Aug 58. The remaining ten sites will be the subject of a further submission when preliminary surveys have been concluded.

The CADIN (Continental Air Defence Integration North) programme requires all gap fillers to be operational between apr 62 and Dec 62. Approximately six months is required for the equipment installation and integration testing before they become operational. Immediate approval of these facilities is required, therefore, if the operational dates are to be met.

This submission has been approved as to form and legality by the Judge Advocage General.

The Chief of the Air Staff recommends.

I recommend.

(CF Johns) A/C
Assistant Deputy Minister
Construction & Properties

TO THE HONOURABLE THE TREASURY BOARD

The undersigned has the honour to report that,

1. the cabinet at its meeting of December 9, 1958, accepted a cost sharing proposal for the Joint United States of America/Canada Air Defence Programme (Ground) which requires Canada to pay for all construction and unit equipment, and the United States of America to pay for all technical equipment;

2. the Joint Defence Programme called Semi-Automatic Ground Environment System, includes a Super Combat Centre, seven Prime Radars, an Annex Building and a Ground Air Transmitter/Receiver Building at 21 existing Prime Radars plus 45 Gap Filler Radars;

3. preliminary surveys, recently completed, have resulted in the estimates of cost for thirty-five of the forty-five Gap Fillers as shown in Appendix "A" which also shows a revision upwards in the estimated cost for five of the six sites approved in the 1959/60 programme by Treasury Board Minute 542000 dated 8 December 1958, these sites are marked by an asterisk;

4. the cost estimates include Radar and Power buildings, tower foundations, site development, water, sewage, power storage, power supply, fencing and access roads where required;

5. the costs with few exceptions are considerably less than the $25,000.00 used during the initial estimate for the United States of America/Canada cost sharing negotiations; in cases where the costs exceed $250,000.00 the increase may be attributed to terrain difficulties or the need for lengthy access roads;

6. the Continental Air Defence Integration North Programme requires the Gap Fillers listed in Appendix "A" to have reached the beneficial occupancy date (BOD) by 1961. Therefore, early approval of these facilities is required if these dates are to be met;

7. a submission seeking approval to construct similar facilities at the remaining 10 sites will be prepared when engineering studies have been completed in accordance with the Continental Air Defence Integration North Programme time phasing;

8. these projects when approved will constitute additions to the 1959/60 Construction Programme under serial numbers as shown in Appendix "A".

The undersigned therefore recommends that authority be granted;

1. to construct 35 Gap Fillers at the sites and estimated costs as shown in Appendix "A";

2. to transfer funds in the amount of $7,667,000.00 from Primary 83 (Unallotted) to Primary 81 (Major Construction);

3. to cancel the authority given under Minute 542000 dated December 8, 1958 to construct six Gap Fillers at various sites;

4. to transfer funds in the amount of $649,000.00 from Primary 81 (Major Construction) to Primary 83 (Unallocated).

Funds are available from the Defence Services appropriations for the Royal Canadian Air Force for the fiscal year 1960/61.

The undersigned has the honour to submit this proposal for approval under and by virtue of the Financial Administration Act, Chapter 116 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1952.

Resectfully submitted

Minister of National Defence.

F/L R Sturgess/jl
CEC2-4-2

This submission, which was prepared by the Directorate of Construction Engineering Control carries out the desire and intention of this Branch and such facts as are therein recited are correct, complete in substance, relevant and material.

Date: 16 Dec 59

LV Carver)W/C
CEC2 23677

(MW Gall) W/C
DCED 25357

I concur
(RB Whiting) A/C
CCE

I concur.
(JA Easton) A/V/M
AMTS

I concur.
(I C Cornblat) A/V/M
for CAS

Submission #9179
(JWD Pudney) S/L
DAFB/AFB2-2
15 Jan 60

SECRET
APPENDIX "A"
TO: S10-136-80/5 TD9343

GAP FILLER RADAR STATIONS