Mont-Verdun Air Base: Dismantling of the "ball" radar will begin in the coming weeks

"Farewell to the 'ball' radar". In a press release, the Ministry of the Armed Forces announced the dismantling "in the coming weeks" of the legendary "ball" radar of the 942 air base of Mont-Verdun , observed for 50 years on the heights of the Lyon region by its inhabitants.

A year ago, in February 2024, the armed forces had already confirmed the demolition of the radar, now obsolete, withdrawn from service in June and replaced by another system nearby.

Installed in the 1970s, this radar, recognizable by its large metal dish, ensured surveillance of French airspace.

"The "Boule" radar site will be converted into a reception platform for a temporary detection system, guaranteeing in particular continuous aerial surveillance in the event of the Mont Thou radar being unavailable," writes the base command.

Air Base 942 hosts 1,400 military personnel and "is the main operational site of the air defense command and air operations," according to the Ministry of the Armed Forces. The personnel work underground, 130 meters deep, along six kilometers of galleries, in particular to control French airspace.