A favourable conjunction of HF coherent radar backscatter, meridian scanning photometer data and an overflight of the DMSP F13 spacecraft has enabled the study of the ionospheric signature of the cusp with these three important techniques simultaneously. Strong HF backscatter power, poleward-moving red line auroral forms and latitude-dispersed ion precipitation features are all observed to be collocated. The precipitation of ions in the 0.1--2 keV energy range is found to be very closely associated with the production of the F region irregularities detected by the HF radar. ¿ 1997 American Geophysical Union