The U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s Sea-Based X-band Radar has arrived in Elliott Bay to undergo maintenance at the Vigor Shipyard in Seattle.
The SBX Radar is one of the sensors for our nation’s missile defense system. Its mission is to identify ballistic missile threats and relay that information to the battle management, command, control and communications system for missile defense.
The work will begin in mid-May and will take about three months to complete. The radar will not be based in the Seattle area, and will not operate while in the shipyard. All vessel movements and work associated with the SBX are fully compliant with all environmental, health, and hazard laws and ordinances.
Tracking the SBX Radar via Marine Traffic App
Tracking the SBX Radar via Marine Traffic App
I followed the SBX all day on the Marine Traffic App (http://marinetraffic.com/ais/services.aspx#), and waited for 3 hours to get this shot as soon as it entered the bay:
The SBX Radar in Elliott Bay
That’s it, but I sure wish it had come earlier.
Oh well, “A” for effort?
Update: I took some photos of the SBX Radar the following day.
Now the damn Chinese know! Doh!