Cheyenne Mountain Complex

Summary

The Cheyenne Mountain Complex is a hardened underground command center located deep within Cheyenne Mountain near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Built during the Cold War to monitor aerospace activity and survive nuclear attack, it serves as the alternate command center for NORAD and the U.S. Space Command.

Construction and Design

Physical Specifications

• Depth: 2,000 feet (610 meters) underground
• Granite Protection: 2,500 feet of solid granite overhead
• Size: 4.5 acres (1.8 hectares)
• Buildings: 15 three-story buildings
• Operational Since: 1966
• Cost: Original construction cost classified

Structural Features

• Buildings mounted on 1,319 steel springs (each 30 inches high)
• Springs absorb shock from nuclear blast or earthquake
• Buildings can sway up to 1 inch in any direction
• Independent of mountain movement
• Hardened against electromagnetic pulse (EMP)
• Natural Faraday cage properties

Function and Operations

Primary Missions

• Aerospace warning for North America
• Missile launch detection
• Space surveillance and tracking
• Satellite monitoring
• Submarine movement tracking
• Cyber threat monitoring

Monitoring Capabilities

• All space traffic
• Ballistic missile launches worldwide
• Aircraft movements
• Satellite orbits and activities
• Nuclear detonations
• Space debris tracking

NORAD Responsibilities

• Joint U.S.-Canadian operation
• 24/7/365 operations
• Warning center for FEMA
• Integration with U.S. Space Command
• Continental air defense coordination

History

Construction (1961-1966)

• Excavation began May 18, 1961
• Blast doors installed 1965
• Operations began 1966
• Over 1.5 million tons of rock excavated

Cold War Era

• Peak operations during Soviet threat
• Constant nuclear watch maintained
• Primary command center for NORAD
• Symbol of U.S. nuclear deterrent

Post-Cold War

• 1992: Ended continuous nuclear watch
• Maintained as alternate command center
• Peterson AFB became primary command
• Continued space and missile monitoring

Modern Era

• 2015: $700 million modernization
• Reinstated as fully operational command center
• Upgraded for cyber threat monitoring
• Enhanced space surveillance capabilities

Facilities and Infrastructure

Buildings and Systems

• 15 independent buildings
• Power generation plants
• Water reservoirs (millions of gallons)
• Communication systems
• Computer centers
• Living quarters for staff
• Medical facilities
• Food storage
• Air filtration systems

Blast Doors

• North Portal blast doors: 25 tons each
• Capable of withstanding 30 PSI overpressure
• Can seal completely in seconds
• Designed for nuclear blast protection

Power and Utilities

• Independent power generation
• Six 1,000-kilowatt generators
• Battery backup systems
• Water from internal reservoirs
• Self-sustaining for extended periods

Modern Operations

2015 Reactivation

• Pentagon invested $700 million in upgrades
• Recognition of renewed Russian threat
• Cyber warfare considerations
• Space domain awareness priority

Current Functions

• Alternate command center (fully operational)
• Space surveillance integration
• Missile warning backup
• Cyber operations center
• Continuity of operations facility

Cultural Significance

In Popular Culture

• Featured in film "WarGames" (1983)
• Appeared in "Dr. Strangelove" (inspired by)
• "Terminator" series references
• Symbol of Cold War nuclear preparedness
• Represents underground survivability

Public Tours

• Limited tours available historically
• Security restrictions apply
• No access to operational areas
• Visitor center at mountain entrance

Connection to Other Facilities

Peterson Space Force Base

• Primary NORAD/USSPACECOM command
• Above-ground headquarters
• Redundancy with Cheyenne Mountain
• 10 miles from mountain complex

Other Colorado Facilities

• Schriever Space Force Base
• U.S. Air Force Academy
• Fort Carson Army Base
• Multiple military installations in region

Tunnel Network Theories

Some researchers claim:

• Connection to Denver Airport underground base
• Links to other DUMBs in region
• Part of continental tunnel network
• Maglev transportation connections

Technical Specifications

Survivability Features

• EMP protection (Faraday cage effect)
• Nuclear blast resistance
• Biological/chemical protection
• Independent life support
• Secure communications
• Hardened data systems

Staffing

• Joint Canadian-American personnel
• 24-hour operations crews
• Technical specialists
• Command staff rotation
• Estimated several hundred personnel

Future and Modernization

Ongoing Upgrades

• Cyber warfare capabilities
• Space domain awareness systems
• Advanced tracking technologies
• Communication system modernization
• Infrastructure life extension

Strategic Importance

• Renewed great power competition
• Space as contested domain
• Cyber threats to infrastructure
• Need for survivable command
• Continuity of government role

Related Facilities Worldwide

Canadian NORAD Facilities

• Canadian Forces Base North Bay
• Underground complex in Ontario
• 200 miles north of Toronto
• 142,000 square feet
• Operational since 1963

Other Hardened Command Centers

• Site R (Raven Rock)
• Mount Weather
• The Greenbrier
• Various DOD facilities globally