AN/SPS-55
 AN/SPS-55 antenna on USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58) | |
| Country of origin | United States |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 1971 |
| Type | Surface-search |
| Frequency | I band (9.05 to 10.0 GHz) |
| Range | greater than 50 nautical miles (92.6 km)[1] |
| Azimuth | 1.5º |
| Elevation | -10° to +10°, centered on the horizon |
| Precision | |
| Power | 130-160 kW peak power |
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 it's antenna consists of two waveguide slotted arrays mounted back-to-back. One array provides linear polarization and the other provides circular polarization. Polarization is user selectable and the circular polarized array is more effective in reducing returns from precipitation.[2]
Features
- Magnetron transmitter
- Low noise RF receiver
- Sensitivity time control
- Fast time constant filtering
- Sector radiate
The effective range of the radar is from 50 feet to beyond 50 miles. It is primarily used to detect other ships, coastlines and navigation hazards.
Platforms
- Ticonderoga class cruisers
- Spruance class destroyers
- Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates
- Avenger class countermeasure ship
References
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