The squadron provided worldwide missile warning, space launch and detection in the event of an attack against the United States.

[note 3] The squadron employed the Air Force's only strategic survivable, mobile ground system to receive early warning missile attack data.

Unlike fixed units, the 4th was designed to be mobile, and could deploy to any location in the world.

In addition, the DSP satellites provided immediate, worldwide missile warning, space launch, and nuclear detonation detection.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency