Established in 1952 the Direcci\u00f3n de Vigilancia y Control del Aeroespacio plays a vital role. It safeguards Argentina’s skies. Are you ready to delve into its history and mission?
The Direcci\u00f3n de Vigilancia y Control del Aeroespacio is a military unit. It belongs to the Argentine Air Force. You will find it in Merlo. Merlo is a town in the province of Buenos Aires. Its main task is to gather data. This data comes from the country’s radar system. It uses this information to monitor air traffic. It tracks planes entering and leaving Argentine airspace.
Locals often call it GIVA. This nickname comes from its original name. The original name was Grupo 1 de Vigilancia A\u00e9rea. A commodore of the Argentine Air Force commands the unit.
The Direcci\u00f3n de Vigilancia y Control del Aeroespacio is organized into squadrons. The VyCEA Squadron operates radar systems. These systems can be fixed or mobile. The Base Squadron provides logistical support. It also handles security. The Escuela Electr\u00f3nica de Defensa trains personnel. It specializes in air surveillance and control. The T\u00e9cnico Squadron maintains the unit’s radars. It also maintains its auxiliary equipment.
The heart of the Grupo VYCEA is the C.I.C. BAIRES. This is the Centro de Informaci\u00f3n y Control Buenos Aires. It is a three-story underground building. Its design resembles British bunkers from World War II. The C.I.C. BAIRES is a solid concrete structure. It dates back to the 1960s. A 23-meter-high tower supports a radar. This stands within a 240-hectare area.
Inside, the C.I.C. BAIRES houses a large situation room. It also has offices with equipment. These facilities monitor 90 percent of the national airspace. This surveillance became possible after 2004. The Sistema Nacional de Vigilancia y Control del Aeroespacio was created. It integrated all available resources.
Until 2003, the underground building was abandoned. Specialists from the Air Force recovered and equipped it. The radar acts as a backup. It supports the radar system at Ministro Pistarini International Airport. This support is crucial during technical issues.
The Centro de Comando y Control Integrado relies on standard computers and servers. It uses custom software. This software is compatible with NATO standards. This ensures interoperability with other countries’ systems.
The VYCEA processes real-time data. This data comes from Air Force and Army radars. It covers the central and northeastern air surveillance sectors. Soon, it will incorporate data from R\u00edo Gallegos radar. It will also include data from the Navy in Puerto Belgrano.
The CIC BAires was tested during the Ejercicio Combinado Plata V. This was a joint exercise. It involved the armies of Argentina and Brazil. The exercise focused on aerial surveillance and control. It detected identified and intercepted irregular flights. Information was transferred.
In 1952, the Grupo de Instrucci\u00f3n de Vigilancia A\u00e9rea was created. It was located in Merlo. It shared grounds with the Club de Planeadores Albatros. This club had been active since 1938. The GIVA used SCR 588-B radars and Gloster Meteor aircraft. Together they formed the air defense for Buenos Aires.
In 1960, construction began on the underground CIC in Merlo. This concrete bunker continues to operate today. In December, Marconi antennas were installed. These provided surveillance and altitude measurements.
In 1976, the Proyecto Pir\u00e1mide began operating. It included a Bendix BPS 1000 radar. It also included a BPS 89 height-finder radar. These radars worked with Mirage MIII-E interceptor aircraft.
On November 6 2015, the Bendix radar was replaced. The Radar Primario Argentino was manufactured by INVAP. It has a coverage of 400 kilometers.
In 1974, the State expropriated land. This land belonged to the Club Argentino de Planeadores Albatros. The land was given to Grupo G1VA. This created a 240-hectare area.
In 1988, the Grupo 1 de Vigilancia A\u00e9rea Escuela merged with the Grupo 2 de Vigilancia y Control A\u00e9reo. This formed the Grupo de Vigilancia y Control del Espacio A\u00e9reo. This is the Grupo VYCEA.
Since 2007, the unit has participated in Operativo Fort\u00edn. This operation is part of the aerospace surveillance plan. It covers the northeastern and northwestern sectors. The unit receives and integrates data. This data is collected by radars.
In 2016, the Academia Policial de Merlo was inaugurated. It is located within the VYCEA facilities. It trains local police.
Today the Direcci\u00f3n de Vigilancia y Control del Aeroespacio stands as a testament. It highlights Argentina’s commitment. It shows commitment to safeguarding its skies. Its history and ongoing efforts ensure national security.