AN/SPS-55

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]

Contents

Features

Platforms

References

External links

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

1. FAS.org - AN/SPS-55
2. Electronics Technician Vol 7 - AN/SPS-55

External links

★ GlobalSecurity.org - AN/SPS-55

★ FAS.org - AN/SPS-55

★ GlobalSecurity.org: CG-47 Ticonderoga-class

★ Electronics Technician Vol 7 - AN/SPS-55

★ NAVAIR warfighters encyclopedia - AN/SPS-55