Saratoga Springs Air Force Station Saratoga Springs ( Also known as Schuylerville ) Air Force Station ( ADC ID : P - 50 , NORAD ID : Z - 50 ) is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station . It is located southeast of Saratoga Springs , New York . It was closed by the Air Force in 1977 . History . In September 1948 the Air Force authorized Air Defense Command to establish thirteen radar stations in the Northeastern United States . These stations were in operation by mid - 1949 . Prompted by the start of the Korean War , on July 11 , 1950 , the Secretary of the Air Force asked the Secretary of Defense for approval to expedite construction of additional stations , and it received the Defense Secretary ’ s approval on July 21 , the Air Force directed the Army Corps of Engineers to proceed with construction . Because of difficulties with new production radar equipment , the radar station , initially known as Schuylerville , NY , did not open until 1 February 1952 when the 656th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron activated with AN / FPS - 3 and AN / FPS - 5 radars and assumed the coverage from the temporary " Lashup " site at Schenectady , NY ( L - 7 ) , and initially the station functioned as a Ground - Control Intercept ( GCI ) and warning station . As a GCI station , the squadron ' s role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit ' s radar scopes . The station was redesignated as Saratoga Springs AFS on 1 December 1953 . Saratoga Springs AFS was one of the first to receive an AN / FPS - 20 search radar in the spring of 1957 . By 1958 the original radars were gone , and operations continued with an AN / FPS - 20 and a pair of AN / FPS - 6 height - finder radars . During 1958 Saratoga Springs AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment ( SAGE ) system , initially feeding data to DC - 02 at Stewart AFB , New York . After joining , the squadron was re - designated as the 656th Radar Squadron ( SAGE ) on 15 December 1958 . The radar squadron provided information 24 / 7 the SAGE Direction Center where it was analyzed to determine range , direction altitude speed and whether or not aircraft were friendly or hostile . The search radar subsequently was upgraded in 1961 to become an AN / FPS - 65 . Major equipment changes occurred during 1963 with the arrival of an AN / FPS - 27 search radar along with AN / FPS - 26 A and AN / FPS - 90 height - finder radars . On 31 July 1963 , the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z - 50 . In 1964 this site became an ADC / FAA joint - use facility . The AN / FPS - 65 was removed in 1965 . In addition to the main facility , Saratoga Springs operated three unmanned AN / FPS - 14 Gap Filler sites : All were closed in June 1968 . Over the years , the equipment at the station was upgraded or modified to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the information gathered by the radars . The site conducted routine operations until 1976 when it was announced the station would be closed as a result of the unlikelihood of an air attack on the Continental United States . The 656th Radar Squadron was inactivated on 30 June 1977 . The FAA continued using the AN / FPS - 27 tower to house beacon ( SIF ) only for several years after the USAF ceased radar operations . Today , Saratoga Springs Air Force Station is abandoned and deteriorating . Most structures and towers still stand in various states of disrepair . The three Gap Filler sites have their support buildings still standing , also abandoned . Air Force units and assignments . Units : Assignments :