A USA Navy two-dimensional, long range air search radar

AN/SPS-49

AN/SPS-49
The AN/SPS-49 is a United States Navy twodimensional, 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.

Operation
First tested in 1965 aboard USS Gyatt (DD-712) and

introduced in 1975. The AN/SPS-49 operates in the 851942 MHz, or L-, band and has a range of 256 nautical miles (474 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.

Operation
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 stabilized 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.

Specifications
Type:
Frequency: Range:

Altitude:
Diameter: Azimuth: Precision: Power:

2D Air-search L band 851942 MHz 3 nmi (5.6 km) to 256 nmi (474 km) up to 150,000 ft (45,720 m) (7.3 m 4.3 m) 0 to 360 1/16 nmi range 0.5 deg azimuth 360 kW peak, 13 kW average