The First Glint: Americas Ballistic Missile Early Warning System
In the dead of Arctic night, the vast expanse above the polar ice hides more than the silence of frozen seas. For the crews manning America’s ballistic missile early warning radars, the high latitudes are a constant chessboard — a place where seconds can determine whether millions live under the shadow of impact or sleep in peace. This was the setting for an event that NORAD later designated Incident Polar-324, remembered in both the radar rooms and command centers as The First Glint — the moment an incoming ballistic missile was first seen shimmering faintly on a scope thousands of miles away. 1. Opening Shadow A. United States Perspective – Clear Air Force Station, Alaska It was 0243 Zulu when Senior Surveillance Officer Lt. Col. Mark Halvorsen leaned toward the primary display of the AN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar. Normally, the vast sweep of the L-band phased array showed predictable sweeps of airliners over the pole, atmospheric noise, and routine test launche...