AN/SPS-40

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AN/SPS-40
USS Trenton (LPD-14) SPS-40 antenna.jpg
AN/SPS-40 on USS Trenton
Country of origin United States
Manufacturer Lockheed Electronics Company [1]
Introduced1961 [2]
Type2D Air-search
Frequency400 - 450 MHz, UHF band
RPM
  • 7.5 rpm (long-range mode);
  • 15 rpm (low flier detection mode) [3]
Range250 nmi
Diameter140" x 214"
Azimuth 0-360°
ElevationVertical beam width 19°
PrecisionHoriz. beam width 10.5°
Power200 kW - 300 kW [3]

The AN/SPS-40 is a United States Navy two-dimensional, long range air search radar that is capable of providing contact bearing and range. It was replaced by the AN/SPS-49 on newer ships and on ships that received the New Threat Upgrade.

Contents

The SPS-40, being a vacuum tube design, was notoriously sensitive to the vibration from shipboard gunfire. A later redesign into a largely solid-state system not only improved its performance (cutting the number of cabinets by more than half) also featured one of the best MTI (Moving Target Indicator) units in the fleet - a rarity in the early 1970s.

History

The forerunner of the AN/SPS-40, the AN/SPS-31 (XN-1), was developed starting June 1956 by STAVID Engineering. [lower-alpha 1] This radar system was determined to be too large for use in the FRAM program for WWII-era destroyers undergoing modernization. The SPS-40, which used numerous off-the-shelf parts, was proposed as an alternate by BUSHIPS as a suitable radar design for the FRAM program. The CNO directed procurement, in advance of service approval, on 10 March 1959 to meet the schedule for the FRAM program and provide the radar frequency diversity required by OPNAV. [4]

Development and production were conducted simultaneously. A separate Technical Evaluation, normally conducted in the contractor's plant, was not performed due to the compressed development schedule. Instead, BUSHIPS requested CNO approval for a concurrent Technical and Operational Evaluation. The equipment was installed in the USS Richard E. Kraus in August 1961, and the evaluation was conducted by COMOPTEVFOR between September and November, 1961. After some deficiencies were corrected, the SPS-40 was accepted for service use in May 1962. [4]

An improved version, AN/SPS-40A, was introduced 1968. [2] Produced by Sperry Corporation, the SPS-40A introduced a broad-band transmitter and some solid-state receiver changes. [1]

The AN/SPS-40B radar set was developed as part of the DART program to improve reliability compared to earlier versions of the SPS-40. It was installed on the Spruance-class destroyers, as well as the Virginia-class cruisers and the Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship. The SPS-40 and SPS-40A were also upgraded to SPS-40B standard, creating the SPS-40C (from SPS-40) and SPS-40D (from SPS-40A). [2] It also incorporated the new AIMS IFF for air control of friendly aircraft, and a Low Flier Detection Mode (LFDM). [1]

Field change 8 for the SPS-40B/C/D versions introduces a Digital Moving Target Indicator (DMTI), which automatically eliminates unwanted clutter, selecting only objects with some minimal radial velocity as targets. This improves the ability for the SPS-40 to detect targets flying over land and small targets in a strong clutter environment. [3]

The AN/SPS-40E replaces the tube-type power amplifier found on earlier versions with a solid-state transmitter and an improved cooling system. [5] [3]

Variants

On board ships

Flag of the United States.svg United States

Naval Ensign of Australia.svg Australia

Naval Ensign of Germany.svg Germany

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">AN/SPS-48</span>

The AN/SPS-48 is a US naval electronically scanned array, air search three-dimensional radar system manufactured by ITT Exelis and deployed in the 1960s as the primary air search sensor for anti-aircraft warships. The deployment of the AN/SPY-1 and the end of the Cold War led to the decommissioning of many such ships, and many of these vessel's AN/SPS-48 sets were reused on aircraft carriers and amphibious ships where it is used to direct targets for air defense systems such as the Sea Sparrow and RIM-116 SAM missiles. Existing sets are being modernized under the ROAR program to AN/SPS-48G standard for better reliability and usability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AN/SPS-49</span> 2-D long-range air search radar of the United States Navy

The AN/SPS-49 is a United States Navy two-dimensional, long range air search radar built by Raytheon that can provide contact bearing and range. It is a primary air-search radar for numerous ships in the U.S. fleet and in Spain, Poland, Taiwan aboard Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, Canada on its Halifax-class frigate and New Zealand on its Anzac-class frigates. It formerly served in a complementary role aboard Aegis cruisers with the AN/SPY-1 but the systems are currently being removed during routine upgrade with no replacement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AN/SPS-55</span>

The AN/SPS-55 is a solid state surface search and navigation radar. It was developed by Cardion Electronics for the U.S. Navy under a contract awarded in 1971. It was originally developed for a class of ships known as Patrol Frigates, but it was also installed on numerous Cruisers, Destroyers, and Minesweepers. It is an I band radar and its antenna consists of two waveguide slotted arrays mounted back-to-back. One array provides linear polarisation and the other provides circular polarisation. Polarisation is user selectable and the circular polarised array is more effective in reducing returns from precipitation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AN/SPQ-9</span>

AN/SPQ-9A is a United States Navy multi-purpose surface search and fire control radar used with the Mk-86 gun fire-control system. It is a two dimensional surface-search radar, meaning it provides only range and bearing but not elevation. It is intended primarily to detect and track targets at sea level, on the surface of the water for either gun fire engagement or navigation. It can however, also detect and track low altitude air targets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AN/SPS-67</span>

The AN/SPS-67 is a short-range, two-dimensional, surface-search/navigation radar system that provides highly accurate surface and limited low-flyer detection and tracking capabilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AN/SPS-52</span>

The AN/SPS-52 is a United States Navy long-range air search 3D radar that is capable of providing contact bearing, range and altitude. It was used on Baleares and Brooke-class frigates, Charles F. Adams and Hatakaze-class destroyers, Tarawa and Wasp-class amphibious assault ships, Galveston, and Providence-class cruisers and other ships. It was replaced by the AN/SPS-48 on newer ships and ships that received upgrades. The antenna is mechanically rotated for azimuth but electronically scanned for elevation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AN/SPS-43</span>

The AN/SPS-43 was a long-range air-search United States Navy radar system introduced in March 1961 that had a range of 500+ km. This radar could provide bearing and distance information, but no altitude information. The small-ship antenna (AN/SPS-29) looked like a bedspring. Larger ships used the 12.8 m wide AN/SPS-37 antenna - about twice as wide and half the height of the SPS-29 antenna - and designed with a much narrower beam. Targets were much more accurately displayed when using the -37 antenna. The -43 operated at VHF frequency - somewhat unusual for any radar - mostly in the bandwidth of television channel 13. The main difference to the SPS-37 was the greatly improved ECCM performance, as the AN/SPS-43 could jump between 20 different frequencies to frustrate jamming attempts. A sea-skimming missile could be detected at a range distance of 30 km, a large high-flying aircraft at 500 km.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AN/SPY-1</span> Passive electronically scanned radar system

The AN/SPY-1 is a United States Navy 3D radar system manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The array is a passive electronically scanned system and a key component of the Aegis Combat System. The system is computer controlled and uses four complementary antennas to provide 360-degree coverage. The system was first installed in 1973 on USS Norton Sound and entered active service in 1983 as the SPY-1A on USS Ticonderoga. The -1A was installed on ships up to CG-58, with the -1B upgrade first installed on USS Princeton in 1986. The upgraded -1B(V) was retrofitted to existing ships from CG-59 up to the last, USS Port Royal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AN/SPG-60</span>

The AN/SPG-60 is a United States tracking radar that is part of the MK-86 Gun Fire Control System (GFCS). It is used for air tracking and on some MK-86 configurations it is also used for illumination for RIM-24 Tartar and RIM-66 Standard missiles. Though the radar is primarily an air tracking radar, the SPG-60 radar can be used for surface tracking. With the boresight mounted camera, the radar could also be used as a sight for optical tracking, optical engagement and damage assessment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AN/SPS-6</span>

AN/SPS-6 is a two-dimensional radar manufactured by Bendix and Westinghouse Electric. It was used by the US Navy as a first-generation air-search radar after World War II, and was widely exported to allies. In addition, the improved AN/SPS-12 is the derivative types developed in other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AN/SPS-10</span>

AN/SPS-10 is a two-dimensional radar manufactured by Raytheon Technologies. It was used by the US Navy as a surface-search radar after World War II and was equipped aboard naval ships during the Cold War. Variants include AN/SPS-10B, AN-SPS/10E, and AN/SPS-10F.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AN/SPS-29</span>

AN/SPS-29 is a two-dimensional radar that was manufactured by General Electric. It was used by the US Navy as an early warning radar after World War II, and was equipped aboard naval ships during the Cold War. Variants include AN/SPS-29A, AN/SPS-29B, AN/SPS-29C, AN/SPS-29D and AN/SPS-29E. After modernization, it was redesignated as AN/SPS-37.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Friedman, Norman (1981). Naval radar. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press. pp. 164–165. ISBN   0-87021-967-7. OCLC   8262709.
  2. 1 2 3 Natua, Frans; White, Thomas A. (April 1981). Manning of Recently Fielded Systems: Case Study of the DD-963 (Spruance) Class Destroyer (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Logistics Management Institute. pp. 3–24, 4–4. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Vaughan, Harvey D.; Amos, Phillip (1992). NAVEDTRA 12969: Shipboard Electronics Material Officer. Naval Education and Training Program, Management Support Activity. pp. 12-19–12-20. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  4. 1 2 NAVPERS 10495: Logistic Support of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 15 September 1965. pp. 59–65. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  5. Villareal, Linda (December 1993). NAVEDTRA 14089: Electronics Technician, Volume 4-Radar Systems. U.S. Navy. p. 2-9. Retrieved 10 February 2023.

Notes

  1. Later purchased by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation