The first British Air Ministry Experimental System tested outside the UK, which later became known as Radar, was brought to Dingli and switched on on 27th March 1939. It was meant to be here on trial for six months. With the war being declared in September of the same year this system became the backbone of Malta's Early Warning System, detecting air raids as soon as hostile aircraft got airborne from Sicily.
Immediately a second system was sent out for reliability requirements.
A third system arrived at Dingli Cliffs in January 1941, which was a completely different system meant for low level and surface detection.
Ground to Air communications systems, Wireless Telegraphic systems, VHF Direction Finding and a set of Interference and Eavesdropping systems were also installed along Dingli Cliffs, between the Maddalena Chapel and tal-Pitkal. A number of Barracks were also built with RAF Dingli becoming a Unit entity.
As the war ended, three radar systems were installed at tal-Pitkal which were withdrawn in the early 50s.