The AN/SPS-49 was a ship-based, L-band, air search radar developed by Raytheon for the US Navy. The first SPS-49 prototype was installed on board the destroyer USS Gyatt in 1965 for a test period, effectively entering service with the Navy in 1976 on board the USS Dale. Up until 1992, more than 200 units in several variants had been produced and installed in different ships. The AN/SPS-49 utilized a line-of-sight, horizon-stabilized antenna to provide acquisition of low-altitude targets in all sea states.
The AN/SPS-49 was a long-range, narrow-beam, 2-dimensional radar which operated in the frequency between 850 and 942 MHz with a range of 250 nmi (460 km). Used for early target detection, the SPS-49 was capable of performing accurate centroiding of target range, azimuth, ECM level background, amplitude, and radial velocity with an associated confidence factor to produce contact data for command and control systems. The orange-peel parabolic shape of the antenna creates a narrow 3.3°-beam to reduce the probability of detection or jamming. It can rotate at 6 rpm for long-range mode or 12 rpm in short-range mode.
Variants: AN/SPS-49(V)1, which was the first basic version; AN/SPS-49(V)2; AN/SPS-49(V)3, which was fitted with the radar video processor (RVP) interface (FC-1) (USS Long Beach); AN/SPS-49(V)4, with the RVP interface; AN/SPS-49(V)5, which was fitted out with automatic target detection (ATD) (New Threat Upgrade (NTU) ships); AN/SPS-49(V)6, equipped with double shielded cables and a modified cooling system (USS Ticonderoga (CG-47); AN/SPS-49(V)7, based on the (V)5 system, but fitted with a (V)6 cooling system (Aegis combat system); AN/SPS-49(V)8, which included the AEGIS Tracker modification kit; AN/SPS-49(V)9, with medium PRF upgrade (MPU).
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
AN/SPS-48
The AN/SPS-48 was a long-range, 3-dimensional, air search radar which operated in the E band and F band (2 to 4 GHz) frequencies. Manufactured by ITT Corporation, the AN/SPS-48 entered service with the US Navy in 1965, installed in the USS Worden. This ship-based radar was mounted on a base that allowed for 360 degrees of rotation. The target could be located at a given azimuth. The range of the target was also identified due to the time it took the beam to go out and back to the receiver. The AN/SPS-48 was capable of detecting the height of the target above the surface of the water. Thus, the radar's central processor had the ability to place the target in an X,Y,Z, 3 dimensional space.
This radar system had a range exceeding 200 nmi (370 km) and could track targets up to 69 degrees in elevation. The AN/SPS-48E was capable of providing target range, bearing and altitude information using a frequency-scanning antenna using a range of different frequencies in E band and F band with three power modes: high, medium and low. The AN/SPS-48's antenna could rotate at 7.5 or 15 rpm. Although it was mechanically rotated to scan azimuth, beams were electronically steered to cover elevation. It could stack multiple beams in a train of pulses at different frequencies. The beams scanned different elevation areas, allowing the stack to cover up to 69 degrees of elevation. The SPS-48 was a key component of the New Threat Upgrade (NTU) and was the predecessor of the AEGIS system currently in use on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers.
This radar system had a range exceeding 200 nmi (370 km) and could track targets up to 69 degrees in elevation. The AN/SPS-48E was capable of providing target range, bearing and altitude information using a frequency-scanning antenna using a range of different frequencies in E band and F band with three power modes: high, medium and low. The AN/SPS-48's antenna could rotate at 7.5 or 15 rpm. Although it was mechanically rotated to scan azimuth, beams were electronically steered to cover elevation. It could stack multiple beams in a train of pulses at different frequencies. The beams scanned different elevation areas, allowing the stack to cover up to 69 degrees of elevation. The SPS-48 was a key component of the New Threat Upgrade (NTU) and was the predecessor of the AEGIS system currently in use on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)