Fylingdales early-warning radar base surrounded by grazing sheep. This Royal Air Force (RAF) military base (Fylingdales) has operated since 1963 as an early-warning system for nuclear missiles, part of a joint USA-UK defence by the NATO (North American Treaty Organisation) alliance. This was originally formed to oppose the Warsaw Pact countries, headed by the Soviet Union (USSR), in a stand-off called the Cold War. Since 2001, American plans have been made to use this base as part of the so-called Son of Star Wars missile defence system where missiles are tracked and destroyed by orbiting satellites. The base does not appear on civilian maps. It is located in the North Yorkshire moors, England.