Gap Filler Detail

1960 – National Archives of Canada

SECRET

S10-136-80/5 TD 0187 (AMTS)

MEMORANDUM

Deputy Minister

Pinetree Extension
Gap Filler Radar Stations

The accompanying memorandum to the Minister with attached Treasury Board Submission seeks approval to construct three Gap Filler Radar Stations at the following sites:

The Cabinet at a meeting on 9 Dec 58 accepted the cost sharing proposal for joint US/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 facilities in Canada:

1. A SAGE Control Centre

2. Seven Prime Radars

3. SAGE Annex and GATR Buildings at 25 existing prime radar sites.

4. 45 Gap Filler Radar Stations

The provision of Gap Fillers in support of the Pinetree chain is necessary to facilitate full exploitation of the Air Defence weapons by reducing the lower limit of the radar coverage provided by the prime radats from 5000' to 500' above flyable terrain.

The Gap Fillers listed in para 1 have for technical reasons been relocated within a twelve miles distance of the originally selected sites. To avoid confusion when identifying the sites, the word "Relocated" has been appended to each name. The cost estimates are based on consultant's reports and include radar and tower buildings, tower foundations, site development, access roads, fencing and such services as power generators, water, sewage and fuel. These costs are considerably less than the preliminary estimate of $250,000.00 which was used during the initial cost sharing negotiations between the USA and Canada.

Approval to construct 35 of the 45 Gap Fillers has been requested in a previous submission. Preliminary surveys have now been completed on the three sites listed in para 1, but the remaining seven will not be completed for some time as they must be relocated and resurveyed. These seven, therefore, will be the subject of a submission to be forwarded at a later date.

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 for these sites is required, to permit orderly phasing of the facilities for the dates on which they are to become operational.

(JA Easton) A/V/M
AMTS
22743

SECRET

S10-136-80/5 TD 0187 (ADM(C&P) - SEC)

OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE

July 27, 1960

MEMORANDUM

To: CCE through Comptroller

Pinetree Extension
Gap Filler Radar Stations

Reference is made to the attached Treasury Board submission which seeks approval to construct an additional three gap filler radar stations at an estimated cost of $409,000.

It will be recalled that on June 10, 1960, we forwarded to Treasury Board a submission calling up thirty-five gap filler stations. This submission has not yet been approved and although we are not in receipt of an official Treasury Board letter of explanation, we are advised verbally that Treasury Board have stood this matter over for a policy decision.

A Treasury Board letter, however, is in course of preparation and should be received sometime next week. In the meantime and pending the policy clearance in connection with the submission for thirty-five sites, Treasury Board staff suggest the subject submission be not forwarded.

It is requested, therefore, this submission be held until we are officially advised as to the final disposition of the previous submission.

(CF Johns) A/C
ADM(C&P)

SECRET

S10-136-80/5 TD 0187 (DCEC)

MEMORANDUM

Minister

Pinetree Extension
Gap Filler Radar Stations

The attached Treasury Board submission seeks authority to construct Gap Fillers at Formosa,Ont, Scotch Settlement, NB, and Westport, Ont at a total estimated cost of $409,000.00.

The Cabinet on 9 Dec 58 accepted a cost sharing proposal for the joint United States/Canada Air Defence Programme (ground) whereby Canada will carry out and pay for all construction in Canada while the United States would pay for all technical equipment. The joint programme includes a SAGE Control Centre, seven heavy radars, saging and GATR's for 25 existing radars, and 45 Gap Fillers.

Approval to construct 35 Gap Fillers has been requested in a previous submission. Preliminary surveys have been completed on three of the remaining ten sites, and the last seven will be the subject of a future submission.

Detailed engineering studies have shown that the estimated cost of the three sites are well below the average cost of $250,000.00 which was used in the preparation of the cost sharing proposal.

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 sites is required, therefore, if the operational dates are to be met.

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

The Chief of the Air Staff recommends.

I recommend.

(PH MacGowan)
Assistant Deputy Minister

SECRET

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 costs 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 Semi-Automatic Ground Environment Control Centre, seven Prime Radars, a Semi-Automatic Ground Environment Annex building and a Ground Air Transmitter Receiver building at 25 existing Prime Radars, plus 45 Gap Filler Radars;

3. approval to construct only 35 of the 45 Gap Filler Radars was requested in a previous submission, as difficulties in connection with site location and survey delayed the remaining ten sites; three sites have now been sufficiently surveyed to determine location and cost, and, as surveys for the last seven sites will not be completed for some time, authority to proceed with construction of the sites shown in Appendix "A" is being sought now in order that Beneficial Occupancy Dates may be met;

4. the cost estimates for these three sites include radar and power buildings, tower foundations, site development, water, sewage, power storage, power supply, fencing and access roads, and the estimates are considerably less than the $250,000.00 figure used in the cost sharing negotiations;

5. the Continental Air Defence Integration North programme requires these three Gap Fillers to reach their Beneficial Occupancy Dates as shown in Appendix "A";

6. approximately 2000 square feet of land plus a power line and road easement is required at each Gap Filler site; negotiations with the landowners on behalf of the Department of National Defence are being conducted by representatives of the Department of Transport who will submit their recommendations and any options which may be taken during the negotiations; funds for the acquisition of these properties have been provided in the Primary 80 estimates for 1960/61;

7. if approval to construct these three Gap Filler Radars is granted, an estimated $6,000.00 will be spent during the 1960/61 fiscal year with the balance being required in 1961/62;

8. these projects when approved will constitute an addition to the 1960/61 Construction Programme under serial numbers as shown in Appendix "A";

9. a submission seeking approval to construct similar facilities at the remaining seven sites will be prepared when engineering studies have been completed.

The undersigned therefore recommends that authority be granted:

UNCLASSIFIED

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

2. to transfer funds in the amount of $409,000.00 from Primary 83 (Unallotted) to Primary 81 (Major Construction).

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.

Respectfully submitted,

George R Pearkes
Minister of National Defence.

F/L R Sturgess/ol
CEC2-4-3 23683

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:7 Jul 1960

(LV Carver) W/C
Acting DCEC

I concur
(RB Whiting) A/C
CCE

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

I concur
(IC Cornblat) A/V/M
for CAS

(A McCaig) W/C
DAFB/AFB2
21 Jul 60

SECRET

APPENDIX "A" TO
S10-136-80/5 TD 0187
DATED: