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For software As Compact As Possible | |
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AN/SPS-52C - Long Range 3D Air Search Radar
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History |
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| SPS-52C was designed by Hughes, the
developers of the FRESCAN (Frequency Scan) 3D radar concept. This is where a
radar steers a pencil beam in elevation by varying the frequency of the
transmitted RF. The antenna of a FRESCAN radar is a stack of slotted
waveguides, specifically designed to take advantage of the fact that the direction
of the beam out of a slotted waveguide depends on the frequency. This is
known as the Squint Angle effect.
The first FRESCAN radar was the SPS-26, first demonstrated in August 1953. It's array was very different from other FRESCAN radars in that it was cylindrical rather than flat. It proved to be a successful test bed, but never saw active service as it's maximum range was about 90nm, and it also was considered too unreliable. It was developed into the successful SPS-39 radar in January 1960. It initially used the array from the SPS-26 and achieved greater reliability and a longer range of 160 n mi. In 1963 most SPS-39s were upgraded to the Series-III standard which featured a new flat array, a new transmitter and as well as receiver modifications. This almost doubled the range and reliability of the radar, and also reduced picture noise. A version of SPS-39 which feature improved combat system integration was designated SPS-42.
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The radar was redesignated SPS-52 when the stabilisation was made digital, but the radar didn't become fully digital until the SPS-52C version in 1977. This version was the last upgrade and featured substantial improvements, including a range of over 240 n mi. The most obvious external difference was the level array. All previous versions had the array tilted 15 degrees to compensate for rotation during the ELSCAN (Elevation Scan). Due to the increased computing power offered by the UYK-20 computer that the SPS-52C had, this was handled digitally. SPS-52C was also substantially more reliable due to a mostly solid state construction, and featured excellent built in test functions. SPS-52C worked especially well on the very balanced Charles F. Adams class of destroyers. Currently it is still in use on Charles F. Adams ships in the German and Greek Navy, as well as a few Japanese Destroyers and small carriers of various navies such as Thailand. The last Australian SPS-52C stopped "Turning & Burning" on the Perth Class (a modified Charles F. Adams) HMAS Brisbane in 2001. |
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References:
| Naval Radar | Norman Friedman |
| Brain | Andrew J Glina |
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