YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — The Air Force has shut down its last Global Weather Intercept Program.

Yokota’s 374th Communications Squadron operated the system at its Owada Receiver Site in Niiza city, about a 90-minute drive from the base. The program was moved there in February 1975 from Fuchu Air Station to collect weather data transmitted from global sources for use in Air Force Weather Agency global forecasts.

But AFWA deemed GWIP too costly to retain because of its outdated computers and improved satellite technology available elsewhere, according to Tech. Sgt. Harold Hegge, the Owada Receiver Site chief. Two other GWIPs closed in October, including one on Guam.

He said the closure isn’t tied to any U.S. force realignment in Japan or the April departure of the 20th Operational Weather Squadron, which was merged into the 17th Operational Weather Squadron at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.

Twenty-one Japanese civilians maintained GWIP for the communications squadron, Hegge said. Most have transferred to other positions but five retired and were honored Friday in a deactivation ceremony.

“The mission of GWIP operators was to collect weather data as it was being transmitted over high-frequency radio,” he said. “This method of data collection will no longer be used by AFWA. The AFWA will be missing some unique weather data but, by their calculations, not enough to significantly affect their weather predictions.”

Hegge said he was unclear how much money AFWA would save annually with the Owada shutdown.

The Owada Receiver Site will continue its other missions, he said. The location also has 10 radio and electronics maintenance technicians, seven of them Yokota airmen and three Japanese civilians.