AN/SPS-49

{{short description|2-D long-range air search radar of the United States Navy}}

{{Infobox radar

|name = AN/SPS-49

|image = SPS-49 Air Search Radar antenna.jpg

|caption = AN/SPS-49 on {{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72|6}}

|country = United States

|introdate = 1975

|number = 200+

|type = 2D Air-search

|frequency = L band 851–942 MHz

|range = {{convert|3|nmi|km|abbr=on}} to {{convert|256|nmi|km|abbr=on}} (AN/SPS-49A(V)1)

|altitude = up to 150,000 ft
(45,720 m)

|diameter = {{convert|24|ft|m|abbr=on}} × 14 ft 3 in
(7.3 m × 4.3 m)

|azimuth = 0 to 360°

|precision = 1/16 nmi range
0.5 deg azimuth (SPS-49A(V)1)

|power = 360 kW peak, 13 kW average (AN/SPS-49A(V)1)

}}

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 {{sclass|Oliver Hazard Perry|frigate|1}}s, Canada on its {{sclass|Halifax|frigate|1}} (prior to FELEX mid-life upgrade) and New Zealand on its {{sclass|Anzac|frigate|1}}s. 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.

In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the "AN/SPS-49" designation represents the 49th design of an Army-Navy electronic device for surface ship search radar system. The JETDS system also now is used to name all Department of Defense electronic systems.

Operation

First tested in 1965 aboard {{USS|Gyatt}} and introduced in 1975, the AN/SPS-49 operates in the 851–942 MHz, or L-, band and has a range of {{convert|256|nmi|km}}. 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 in long range mode or 12 rpm in short-range mode.{{Cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/systems/an-sps-49.htm|title=AN/SPS-49 Very Long-Range Air Surveillance Radar|website=www.globalsecurity.org}} Default is at 12 rpm for the AN/SPS-49A(V)1, to provide more frequent scans against incoming missiles. The SPS-49A(V)1 can detect out to its full range at either 6 or 12 rpm. The antenna is stabilised to compensate for ships pitch and roll, to a maximum of +/-15° for both pitch and roll in 12 rpm mode, and +/-23.5° for both pitch and roll in 6 rpm mode. The output stage of the transmitter in all variants uses a two-cavity klystron amplifier.

File:Combat systems of the FFG-7 class.pngIn 1998, the Inspector General of the Department of Defense reported that SPS-40 and SPS-49 radars in Bahrain were "unusable because the equipment operates on a frequency that interferes with the Bahrain telecommunications services".{{Cite news|url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1291&dat=19981018&id=IP9TAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Fo4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6439,556002|title = Pentagon Equipment Disrupting Phone System|date = October 18, 1998|work = Boca Raton News|publisher = Associated Press}}

= On board ships =

== {{Flagicon|United States|variant=Naval}} United States ==

  • {{sclass|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|1}}
  • {{sclass|Kitty Hawk|aircraft carrier|1}}
  • {{sclass|Iowa|battleship|1}}
  • {{sclass|Ticonderoga|cruiser|1}}
  • {{sclass|Virginia|cruiser|1}}
  • {{sclass|Leahy|cruiser|1}}
  • {{sclass|Spruance|destroyer|1}}
  • {{sclass|Oliver Hazard Perry|frigate|1}}

== {{Flagicon|Republic of China|variant=Naval}} Republic of China ==

== {{Flagicon|Italy|variant=Naval}} Italy ==

  • {{sclass|Alpino|frigate|1}}
  • {{sclass|Bergamini|frigate|1}}

== {{Flagicon|Australia|variant=Naval}} Australia ==

  • {{sclass|Anzac|frigate|1}}

== {{Flagicon|Canada|variant=Naval}} Canada ==

  • {{sclass|Halifax|frigate|1}}

== {{Flagicon|New Zealand|variant=Naval}} New Zealand ==

File:SPS-49(V)8 ANZ.jpg

== {{Flagicon|South Korea|variant=Naval}} South Korea ==

Variants

As of 2014, there are eleven configurations of the AN/SPS-49(V).

  • AN/SPS-49(V)1: Baseline radar (Various CVN, LHA, LSD and other ships)
  • AN/SPS-49(V)2: (V)1 radar without the coherent side lobe cancellation feature ({{sclass|Oliver Hazard Perry|frigate|1}}s)
  • AN/SPS-49(V)3: (V)1 radar with the radar video processor (RVP) interface (FC-1) ({{USS|Long Beach|CGN-9|6}})
  • AN/SPS-49(V)4: (V)2 with the RVP interface ({{sclass|Oliver Hazard Perry|frigate|1}}s)
  • AN/SPS-49(V)5: (V)1 with automatic target detection (ATD) (New Threat Upgrade (NTU) ships)
  • AN/SPS-49(V)6: (V)3 system with double shielded cables and a modified cooling system ({{USS|Ticonderoga|CG-47|6}})
  • AN/SPS-49(V)7: (V)5 system with a (V)6 cooling system (Aegis combat system)
  • AN/SPS-49(V)8: (V)5 system enhanced to include the AEGIS Tracker modification kit (Aegis combat system)
  • AN/SPS-49(V)8 ANZ: (V)8 system modified to interface with the CelsiusTech 9LV-453 combat system ({{sclass|Anzac|frigate|1}}s)
  • AN/SPS-49(V)9: (V)5 with medium PRF upgrade (MPU)
  • AN/SPS-49A(V)1: Developed in the mid-1990s. Added radial speed determination on each target, each scan. Improved clutter rejection

See also

References

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