AN/SPQ-11
{{Short description|US Navy PESA space and missile tracking radar}}
{{Infobox radar
|name = AN/SPQ-11
|image = Cobra Judy Phased Array.jpg
|caption = Close-up of the front of Cobra Judy radar, 1983.
|country = United States
|introdate = 1983
|number = 1
|type = Passive electronically scanned array radar
|frequency = 2900–3100 MHz (E\F band)
|range =
|altitude =
|diameter =
|azimuth =
|elevation =
|precision =
|power =
}}
Image:USNS OBSERVATION ISLAND (T-AGM-23) AFT VIEW.JPG
The AN/SPQ-11 Cobra Judy was a PESA radar found on the {{USNS|Observation Island|T-AGM-23}} missile range instrumentation ship.
It was used for space tracking, ballistic missiles tracking and other instrumentation. Cobra Judy was the Airforce code name for the afloat phased-array radar that was designed with a primary mission of monitoring Soviet missile tests and which operated in conjunction with land based phased-array radar Cobra Dane and Cobra Ball aircraft.{{Cite journal |last=Richelson |first=Jeffery |date=October 1986 |title=Monitoring the Soviet Military |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/23623200 |journal=Arms Control Today |volume=16 |issue=7 |page=16 |jstor=23623200 }} Cobra Judy was replaced by the Cobra Judy Replacement (CJR) in April 2014.
Classification of radar systems
{{further|Joint Electronics Type Designation System}}
Under the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), all U.S. military radar and tracking systems are assigned a unique identifying alphanumeric designation. The letters “AN” (for Army-Navy) are placed ahead of a three-letter code.{{cite book|author=Avionics Department|title=Electronic Warfare and Radar Systems Engineering Handbook|edition=4|chapter=Missile and Electronic Equipment Designations|page=2-8.1|publisher=Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division|location=Point Mugu, California|year=2013|url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA617071.pdf}}
- The first letter of the three-letter code denotes the type of platform hosting the electronic device, where A=Aircraft, F=Fixed (land-based), S=Ship-mounted, and T=Ground transportable.
- The second letter indicates the type of equipment, where P=Radar (pulsed), Q=Sonar, and R=Radio.
- The third letter indicates the function or purpose of the device, where G=Fire control, Q=Special Purpose, R=Receiving, S=Search, and T=Transmitting.
Thus, the AN/SPQ-11 represents the 11th design of an Army-Navy “Ship-mounted, Radar, Special Purpose” electronic device.{{cite book|last=Winkler|first=David F.|title=Searching the Skies: The Legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program|chapter=Radar Systems Classification Methods|page=73|publisher=United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command|location=Langley AFB, Virginia|year=1997|lccn=97020912|url=https://nuke.fas.org/guide/usa/airdef/1997-06-01955.pdf}}
Replacement
The Cobra Judy Platform, {{USNS|Observation Island|T-AGM-23|6}} was taken out of service and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register March 31, 2014.{{cite web |title= USNS Observation Island (T-AGM 23) |url= {{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=AGM23}} |publisher= Naval Vessel Register |accessdate= 2 March 2012}} On 31 March 2014, the Cobra Judy Replacement program, aboard {{USNS|Howard O. Lorenzen|T-AGM-25}} reached initial operational capability (IOC). According to the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the U.S. Air Force also assumed operational and sustainment responsibilities for the ship.{{cite news |url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=80748 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505162304/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=80748 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 5, 2014 |title=Cobra Judy Replacement Achieves Initial Operational Capability |work=Navy.mil |date=1 May 2014 |accessdate=8 May 2014 |id=No. NNS140501-26}} The inertial navigation system for the antenna stabilization and alignment had been provided by iMAR Navigation.
See also
{{Portal|Electronics}}
- {{USNS|Observation Island|T-AGM-23}}
- {{USNS|Howard O. Lorenzen|T-AGM-25}}, platform for Cobra King, the Cobra Judy Replacement
- Cobra Dane
- Cobra Ball
- Cobra Eye
- {{anl|Joint Electronics Type Designation System}}
- List of radars
- List of military electronics of the United States
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/cobra_judy.htm FAS Intelligence Resource Program – AN/SPQ-11 Cobra Judy]
{{Cobra}}
Category:Radio frequency antenna types
Category:Military radars of the United States
Category:Military electronics of the United States
{{US-navy-stub}}
{{electronics-stub}}