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AN/FLR-9

{{Short description|United States circularly disposed HF antenna array}}

{{Use american english|date=June 2025}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}

File:CDAA Elmendorf AFB.PNG

The AN/FLR-9 is a type of very large circularly disposed antenna array, built at eight locations during the Cold War for HF/DF direction finding of high priority targets. The worldwide network, known collectively as "Iron Horse", could locate HF communications almost anywhere on Earth. Because of the exceptionally large size of its outer reflecting screen (1056 vertical steel wires supported by 96 {{convert|120|ft|m|adj=on}} towers), the FLR-9 was commonly referred to by the nickname "Elephant Cage." Constructed in the early to mid 1960s, in May 2016 the last operational FLR-9 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska was decommissioned. It can be confused with the US Navy's AN/FRD-10, which also used a circularly disposed antenna array.

Description

In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the "AN/FLR-9" designation represents the 9th design of an Army-Navy electronic device for fixed ground countermeasures passive detection equipment. The JETDS system also now is used to name all Department of Defense electronic systems.

The AN/FLR-9 Operation and Service Manual{{cite book |url= http://www.premium-rx.org/ref/wullenweber.pdf |editor-last1= Weyand |editor-first1= Gen Fred C |editor-last2= Smith |editor-first2= Maj Gen Paul T |title= TM 32-5985-217-15 Operator's, Organizational, Direct Support, and Depot Maintenance Manual for Antenna Group Countermeasures Receiving Set AN/FLR-9(V7)(V8) |type= Technical Manual |publisher= Headquarters Department of the Army |date= June 25, 1976 |access-date= June 2, 2025}} describes the array as follows:

The antenna array is composed of three concentric rings of antenna elements. Each ring of elements receives RF signals for an assigned portion of the 1.5 to 30-MHz radio spectrum. The outer ring normally covers the 2 to 6-MHz range (band A), but also provides reduced coverage down to 1.5 MHz. The center ring covers the 6 to 18-MHz range (band B) and the inner ring covers the 18 to 30-MHz range (band C). Band A contains 48 sleeve monopole elements spaced {{convert|78.4|ft|m}} apart (7.5 degrees). Band B contains 96 sleeve monopole elements spaced 37.5 feet (11.43 m) apart (3.75 degrees). Band C contains 48 antenna elements mounted on wooden structures placed in a circle around the central building. Bands A and B elements are vertically polarized. Band C elements consist of two horizontally polarized dipole antenna subelements electrically tied together, and positioned one above the other.

The array is centered on a ground screen {{convert|1,443|ft|m|abbr=on}} in diameter. The arrangement permits accurate direction finding of signals from up to {{convert|4000|nmi|km|abbr=on}} away.

File:ANFLR-9 antenna array.jpg c. 1980]]

FLR-9s were constructed at the following places:{{cite book|last1=Budiansky|first1=Stephen|title=Code Warriors|date=2016|publisher=Alfred A. Knopf|location=New York|isbn=9780385352666|pages=161}}

Advances in technology have made the FLR-9 obsolete. In 1997, the FLR-9 at the former Clark AB was converted into a 35,000-seat fabric-covered amphitheater. In early May 2002, systematic dismantling of the FLR-9 at San Vito began, and it was totally deconstructed by the end of that month. Although the markings of where the array stood remain in the ground, the structure is completely gone.{{Cite web|url=http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/former-an-flr-9-site-hfdf-in-italy/view/?service=0|title = Former AN/FLR-9 site HFDF in Italy in San Vito dei Normanni, Italy (Google Maps)|date = 4 August 2006}}

Demolition of the FLR-9 at Misawa began in October 2014.{{Citation |url= http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20121008a9.html |title= 'Elephant Cage' antennas to be axed |website= The Japan Times |date= October 8, 2012 |access-date= June 2, 2025 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121103215018/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20121008a9.html |archive-date= November 3, 2012 |url-status= dead}}

A decommissioning ceremony for the last active FLR-9, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, was held on May 25, 2016.

{{cite news |title=A look inside a classified Cold War-era antenna site, now shut down |author=Bowman, Bonney |url=http://www.ktva.com/inside-a-classified-cold-war-era-antenna-site-now-shut-down-625/ |publisher=KTVA |date=25 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501061010/http://www.ktva.com/inside-a-classified-cold-war-era-antenna-site-now-shut-down-625/ |archive-date=1 May 2017 |url-status=dead}}

See also

{{Portal|Electronics}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20050402043404/http://www.usafsa.org/ USASA Field Station Augsburg] – history of the Augsburg site
  • [https://www.secret-bases.co.uk/secret2.htm?permalink=chicksands Extreme close-up hi-res aerial photo of FLR-9 at Chicksands just before being dismantled in 1996]
  • FLR-9 at Ramasun Station, Udon Thani, Thailand {{coord|17.2917333|102.868850|type:landmark|name=FLR-9 site at Ramasun Station, Udon Thani, Thailand}}
  • FLR-9 at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska {{coord|61.264486|-149.851198|type:landmark|name=FLR-9 at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska}}
  • FLR-9 at Gablingen, Augsburg, Germany {{coord|48.449278|10.863161|type:landmark|name=FLR-9 at Gablingen, Augsburg, Germany}}
  • FLR-9 at Misawa, Honshū Island, Japan {{coord|40.720053|141.326580|type:landmark|name=FLR-9 at Misawa, Honshu Island, Japan}}
  • FLR-9 site at Chicksands, Bedfordshire, UK {{coord|52.042580|-0.388298|type:landmark|name=FLR-9 site at Chicksands, Bedfordshire, UK}}
  • FLR-9 site at Clark AFB, Philippines {{coord|15.204687|120.528173|type:landmark|name=FLR-9 site at Clark AFB, Philippines}}
  • FLR-9 site at Karamursel AS, Turkey {{coord|40.709453|29.528074|type:landmark|name=FLR-9 site at Karamursel AS, Turkey}}
  • FLR-9 site at San Vito dei Normanni AS, Italy {{coord|40.645638|17.841368|type:landmark|name=FLR-9 site at San Vito dei Normanni AS, Italy}}
  • [http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/an-flr-9.htm AN/FLR-9 information on FAS.org]
  • [http://www.ftva.org/heritage/anflr9/index.cfm FLR-9 photo collection on FTVA.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331014117/http://www.ftva.org/heritage/anflr9/index.cfm |date=2012-03-31 }}

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Category:Automatic identification and data capture

Category:Military radio systems of the United States

Category:Radio frequency antenna types

Category:Radio-frequency identification

Category:Surveillance

Category:Military electronics of the United States

Category:Antennas (radio)

Category:Telecommunications equipment of the Cold War