AURORA • Buckley Space Force Base leaders celebrated growth at the installation during an event Wednesday that marked achievements over the past year such as radar improvements becoming fully operational, the Space Force taking over infrared ground stations from the Army and economic impact soaring.

The base had an estimated economic impact of about $2.5 billion in 2023, installation commander Col. Heidi Dexter announced at the annual State of the Base event. A substantial increase from the $1.38 billion in impact the base reported in 2022.

Dexter explained the way the economic impact is calculated has changed recently to factor in construction projects, materials and supplies, services and salaries.

“As our base and its mission continue to grow, so will the economic contribution,” she said.

Buckley employs 12,000 people and supports numerous missions, such as missile warning, intelligence gathering and supporting national security with F-16s, among others.

Space Force guardians working on missile warning for Delta 4 saw a 1,000% increase in infrared missile events because of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, marking the highest operations tempo in history, Dexter said.

At the same time this year, Delta 4 took a step forward with a new long-range discrimination radar reaching operation at Clear Space Force Station in Alaska. The radar is manned by a unit within Delta 4, the 13th Space Warning Squadron.

After eight years of planning and construction, the radar can now search and track objects, including all classes of ballistic missiles at extensive range, a news release said.

This year, Delta 4 also took over joint tactical ground stations from the Army in Italy, Japan, South Korea and Qatar, she said.

These ground stations analyze and disseminate infrared information from overhead sensors to provide early warning for ballistic missile launches.

“This transfer signifies consolidation of Department of Defense early missile warning capabilities to one service,” she said.

Other major updates have happened on base with the Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado, which is focused on intelligence gathering, receiving a new fire alarm system and mass notification system. The National Reconnaissance Office runs operations in the facility in partnership with the National Security Agency Colorado and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.

“This extensive state-of-the-art detection and notification system makes the site safer for employees,” explained Chief Master Sgt. Charles Shurchay.

The base also added a new visitor center and a large vehicle inspection point, intended to cut down on congestion, Dexter said.

U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, D-Aurora, attended the celebration and vowed to protect the base, its units and replace the aging F-16s at the base that are set to be phased out soon.

He also explained the importance of sending additional aid to Ukraine and Israel via a national security supplemental bill at a time of tremendous insecurity globally.

“America is strong, not just because of our satellites and our fighter wings, and our aircraft carrier groups, we’re strong because we have friends,” Crow said. “We have allies, and we have partners.”