In the late 1980s a changing world and threat resulted in revamping the LRR missions. The old radar, although loved by some and hated by those whose radios and TV's picked up a "buzzing" interference every twelve seconds, required replacement with a lighter, more mobile and cost effective system.
The decision was made to purchase the Westinghouse (now Northrup-Grumman) AN/TPS-70 3 Dimensional phased array radar (See Cold Lake photo #5). This single channel, search and secondary mobile system would provide the operator with the capability to track 500 targets, displaying target range, height, azimuth, Identification Friend/Foe (IFF) information from an altitude of zero to 100,000 feet to a maximum range of 240 nautical miles. The radar would be located at the Primrose Lake Evaluation Range (PLER), with a squadron headquarters for administration and the Remote Training Operations Centre (ROTC) from which actual operations control functions would be performed, at 4 Wing Cold Lake.
Unfortunately, there was no longer a requirement for the old site, and in 1992, the "Hill" was decommissioned and 42 Radar Squadron took up residence in its new "digs" on the Wing. -- Captain Perry