Joelton Air Force Station (AFS) was initially part of Phase II of the
Air Defense Command Mobile Radar program. The Air Force approved this expansion of the Mobile Radar program on 23 October 1952 to provide radar coverage of the
Nashville, TN area. Radars in this network were designated "SM." The station became operational on 1 October 1956 when the 799th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron began operating an
AN/MPS-11 search radar and an
AN/TPS-10D height-finder radar. Eventually these sets were replaced by more-modern
AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar and
AN/FPS-8 search radar sets. 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. In addition to the main facility, Guthrie operated an unmanned
AN/FPS-18 Gap Filler site: • Bradyville, TN (SM-145A) Joelton AFS was closed on 1 June 1961 due to budgetary constraints. However, the
FAA retained the radar, replacing the search radar with an
ARSR-1E model. The FAA continues to operate the site as part of the
Joint Surveillance System (JSS). Most of the Air Force buildings remain and are in use; the housing area is now private residences. ==Air Force units and assignments ==