I think the most impressive part about these sites was the way they networked them together with UHF/Microwave Troposcatter links, which basically just scream RF into the sky and then listen for the small amount of energy that's reflected off the troposphere on the other end. (It's a little more complex than that)
This method was the back-bone of long distance Cold War communications links (As well as HF using ionospheric propagation) until Satellites started becoming more commonplace in the 70's
That sounds like stuff of science fiction, can't believe it works. The best part is that it works long distance without having to have satellites in the sky... and is probably un-jammable?
Thanks for sharing this, so cool to learn about it!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropospheric_scatter
This method was the back-bone of long distance Cold War communications links (As well as HF using ionospheric propagation) until Satellites started becoming more commonplace in the 70's