{"id":382283,"date":"2026-01-01T20:56:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T20:56:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/382283\/"},"modified":"2026-01-01T20:56:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T20:56:12","slug":"space-force-shows-off-snowy-new-alaska-radar-post-photo-of-the-day-for-jan-1-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/382283\/","title":{"rendered":"Space Force shows off snowy new Alaska radar post photo of the day for Jan. 1, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"2617ab90-1118-4233-ae3a-f11bfb46b293\">Early in December, the U.S. <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/us-space-force-history-mission-capabilities\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/us-space-force-history-mission-capabilities\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Space Force<\/a>&#8216;s Combat Forces Command (CFC) <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.spaceforce.mil\/News\/Article-Display\/Article\/4354383\/cfc-lrdr-operational-acceptance\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.spaceforce.mil\/News\/Article-Display\/Article\/4354383\/cfc-lrdr-operational-acceptance\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">formally accepted <\/a>operational responsibility for the Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) after the successful completion of a series of tests. This advanced radar system now moves from extended testing into real-world, day-to-day use to support U.S. missile defense.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-5ec28b19-106d-46ec-97fc-1e5680d2aeaa\" data-url=\"\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"\/>What is it?<\/p>\n<p id=\"b70aae2c-ee29-4a78-8d59-5773d52cde6e\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lockheedmartin.com\/en-us\/products\/long-range-discrimination-radar.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.lockheedmartin.com\/en-us\/products\/long-range-discrimination-radar.html\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Long Range Discrimination Radar <\/a>(LRDR) is a cutting-edge ground-based radar system designed to detect, track and discriminate long-range ballistic missile threats with high precision. With its higher precision, the system can better tell the difference between something dangerous (like an<a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/19601-how-intercontinental-ballistic-missiles-work-infographic.html\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/19601-how-intercontinental-ballistic-missiles-work-infographic.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> intercontinental ballistic missile<\/a>) and things that aren&#8217;t dangerous (like debris). That sorting task is what the &#8220;discrimination&#8221; in its acronym refers to.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-url=\"\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"b70aae2c-ee29-4a78-8d59-5773d52cde6e-1\">LRDR has been in the works for years. <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.spacecom.mil\/Newsroom\/News\/Article-Display\/Article\/2870224\/long-range-discrimination-radar-initially-fielded-in-alaska\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.spacecom.mil\/Newsroom\/News\/Article-Display\/Article\/2870224\/long-range-discrimination-radar-initially-fielded-in-alaska\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">In late 2021<\/a>, the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/37033-us-missile-defense-test-shoots-down-icbm.html\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/37033-us-missile-defense-test-shoots-down-icbm.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Missile Defense Agency<\/a> marked the radar&#8217;s initial tests in Alaska, kicking off the long process of testing, training and integration into the larger missile defense network.<\/p>\n<p>You may like<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-d2e16e8e-2200-4098-aa1f-0a7876b7c012\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-url=\"\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"\/>Where is it?<\/p>\n<p id=\"e6d7e4ca-e441-4d37-9bd3-2912cf74a3de\">The LRDR is located at Clear Space Force Station in Alaska.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.25%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HSLBUETrQfH2dxvs6EV8Za.jpg\" alt=\"A trapezoidal building with slanted straight sides is covered in snow amidst a snowy landscape.\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HSLBUETrQfH2dxvs6EV8Za.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HSLBUETrQfH2dxvs6EV8Za.jpg\" class=\"inline expandable\"\/><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HSLBUETrQfH2dxvs6EV8Za.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"expand-button icon-expand-image icon\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HSLBUETrQfH2dxvs6EV8Za.jpg\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"><\/p>\n<p>The LRDR is now part of the larger Space Force missile defense network. (Image credit: U.S. Space Force)<a id=\"elk-4ea5f98e-f0cf-42ba-97b1-a0d90d63dd91\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-url=\"\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"\/>Why is it amazing?<\/p>\n<p id=\"aff6cc88-2fa9-4bca-9789-710d15528be3\">Missile defense isn&#8217;t just about seeing something, it&#8217;s also about knowing what you&#8217;re seeing in time to respond. LRDR is designed to provide more precise tracking and discrimination data which the Space Force says can improve interceptor precision and shorten reaction times.<\/p>\n<p>Now controlling LRDR, the Space Force emphasizes that the system will be continuously monitoring our skies and atmosphere, making the system a key sentinel in the U.S. missile defense strategy.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-heading-buying-guide-7\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-url=\"\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"\/><a id=\"elk-e8a6087c-ca6b-461c-a66d-dd49343b8537\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-url=\"\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"\/>Want to learn more?<\/p>\n<p id=\"38fcf0d0-7f13-45dd-a713-6be057087354\">You can learn more about <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/decadal-survey-ground-based-radar-asteroid-threat\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/decadal-survey-ground-based-radar-asteroid-threat\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">radar systems<\/a> and the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/us-space-force-history-mission-capabilities\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/us-space-force-history-mission-capabilities\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">U.S. Space Force<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Early in December, the U.S. Space Force&#8216;s Combat Forces Command (CFC) formally accepted operational responsibility for the Long&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":382284,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[79,193],"class_list":["post-382283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-space","tag-science","tag-space"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/382283","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=382283"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/382283\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/382284"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=382283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=382283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=382283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}