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Solid State Phased Array Radar System

(Redirected fromAN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar)

TheSolid State Phased Array Radar System[1](SSPARS),colloquiallyBallistic Missile Early Warning System radar network(BMEWS radar network),[2]is aUnited States Space Forceradar, computer, and communications system for missile warning and space surveillance. There are SSPARS systems at five sites:Beale Air Force Base,CA,Cape Cod Space Force Station,MA,Clear Space Force Station,AK,RAF Fylingdales,UK, andPituffik Space Base,Greenland.[3]The system completed replacement of theRCA 474L Ballistic Missile Early Warning Systemwhen the last SSPAR was operational at then-Clear Air Force Stationin 2001.[1]

Coverage of the originalPAVE PAWSandBMEWSsystems, later upgraded to SSPARS and eventually to UEWR
BMEWS solid-state phased-array radar atRAF Fylingdales

Classification of radar systems

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Further information:Joint Electronics Type Designation System

Under theJoint Electronics Type Designation System(JETDS), all U.S. military radar and tracking systems are assigned a unique identifying Alpha numeric designation. The letters “AN” (for Army-Navy) are placed ahead of a three-letter code.[4]

  • The first letter of the three-letter code denotes the type of platform hosting the electronic device, where A=Aircraft, F=Fixed (land-based), S=Ship-mounted, and T=Ground transportable.
  • The second letter indicates the type of equipment, where P=Radar (pulsed), Q=Sonar, and R=Radio.
  • The third letter indicates the function or purpose of the device, where G=Fire control, R=Receiving, S=Search, and T=Transmitting.

TheAN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR)is a series ofphased array radarsystems used for long-rangeearly warningandspace surveillance,operating as part of theUnited States Missile DefenseandSpace Surveillance Network.

Thus, the AN/FPS-132 represents the 132nd design of an Army-Navy “Fixed, Radar, Search” electronic device.[4][5]

History

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The Solid State Phased Array Radar System is a phased array radar with 2500 "solid state transmitter" modules.[6]

It began replacing PAVE PAWS when the first AN/FPS-115 face was taken off-line for the radar upgrade. NewAN/FPS-123Early Warning Radars became operational in (Beale) and (Cape Cod) in each base's existing PAVE PAWS "Scanner Building".[7]

In 2001 SSPARS equipment included:

  • Raytheon AN/FPS-123 PAVE PAWS Radar[8]atBeale(FPS-115IOCApril 4, 1980) and Cape Cod (FPS-115IOCAugust 15, 1980)[9]
  • RaytheonAN/FPS-120Solid State Phased Array RadaratThule( "2QFY87" )[10]with greater radar capabilities than the FPS-115 PAVE PAWS radars
  • RaytheonAN/FPS-126Solid State Phased Array RadaratFylingdaleswith three faces for 360 degree coverage (constructed August 1989-October 1992)[11]
  • Raytheon AN/FPS-120[12]Solid State Phased Array Radarusing an older antenna from the 1987[13]PAVE PAWS EWR in Texas(groundbreaking April 16, 1998,[12]for the "Clear Radar Upgrade" )[14]

After the Fylingdales BMEWS radars had been replaced by Raytheon/Cossor AeroSpaceandControl Data Corporation(embedded CDC-Cyber computer) at a cost of US $100M,[citation needed]in February 1995 the "missile warning center atCheyenne Mountain AS[was] undergoing a $450 million upgrade program ".[15]The entire SSPARS became operational on January 31, 2001 when the "SSPARS Site"[16]at Clear AFS (separate from the BMEWS site) hadInitial Operational Capability.[17]The Clear AN/FPS-120 was subsequently "upgraded to the AN/FPS-123 model" SSPA Radar,[18]and the SSPARS was modified in theEarly Warning Radar Service Life Extension Program[1]The US approved sale of an[which?]AN/FPS-115 to Taiwan in 2000[19]and it was introduced in 2006.[20]

The UKandAlaskaBMEWS stations became SSPARS radar stations when their respective Raytheon AN/FPS-126 radar[21]and 2001 Raytheon AN/FPS-120 became operational.[22]In 2007, 100 owners/trustees of amateur radio repeaters near AN/FPS-123 radars were notified to lower their power output to mitigate interference,[23]and AN/FPS-123s were part of theAir Force Space Surveillance Systemby 2009.[24]BAE Systemsbegan a 2007 contract for SSPARS maintenance.[25]The SSPARS radar electronics was subsequently upgraded, e.g., the Beale radar[19]and the Fylingdales FPS-126 each became anAN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar(UEWR)[26]by Raytheon.[27]The Beale AN/FPS-123 was upgraded to a RaytheonAN/FPS-132 (UEWR)with capabilities to operate in theGround-based Midcourse Defense(GMD) ABM system—the Beale UEWR included "Avionics", "T/R modules",[28]"FEX/TTG", "BSG", "Signal Processor", and other changes.[29]After additional UEWR installations for GMD at Thule Site J and the UK (contracted 2003),[30]a 2012 ESD/XRXRequest for Informationfor replacement, and remote operation, of the remaining "PAVE PAWS/BMEWS/PARCS systems" at Cape Cod, Alaska, and North Dakota was issued.[31]The Alaska AN/FPS-132 was contracted in fall 2012[32]and the Cape Cod installation in 2013.[19]

The AN/FPS-132 Block-5 was ordered by theQatar Emiri Air Force,and is in construction.[33]

System overview

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External image
AN/FPS-132 UEWR

Locations

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Active:

Planned:

References

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  1. ^abcChapman, Bert (2008).Space Warfare and Defense: A Historical Encyclopedia and Research Guide(Google books).Bloomsbury Academic.ISBN978-1-59884-006-3.Retrieved2014-03-13.BMEWS was replaced by the Solid State Phased Array Radar System (SSPARS) in 2001.
  2. ^Carter, Austin; Mattorano, Gino, eds. (2004).Space Command Almanac 2004-2005(PDF)(Report). HQ AFSPACECOMM Public Affairs.
  3. ^"Operations, Maintenance and Support for the Solid State Phased Array Radar System (SSPARS) at 5 Geographically Separated Units WorldWide".FedBizOpps.gov.Retrieved2014-03-13.
  4. ^abAvionics Department (2013). "Missile and Electronic Equipment Designations".Electronic Warfare and Radar Systems Engineering Handbook(PDF)(4 ed.). Point Mugu, California: Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division. pp. 2–8.1.
  5. ^Winkler, David F. (1997). "Radar Systems Classification Methods".Searching the Skies: The Legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program(PDF).Langley AFB, Virginia: United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command. p. 73.LCCN97020912.
  6. ^http:// geo.uzh.ch/microsite/rsl-documents/research/SARlab/GMTILiterature/PDF/Skolnik90.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  7. ^Photographs [and] Written Historical and Descriptive Data: Cape Cod Air Station Technical Facility/Scanner Building and Power Plant(PDF)(Report). Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2014-07-15.Retrieved2014-06-10.Technical Facility/Scanner Building (HAER No. MA-151-A), which houses the AN/FPS-1152 radar and related equipment… PAVE PAWS Site 1… AN/FSS-7…designed byAvco Electronics Division…The first two PAVE PAWS sites in Massachusetts and California represented the first two-faced phased array radars deployed by the U.S.
  8. ^Communications-Electronics (C-E) Managers Handbook(PDF)(Report).Retrieved2014-03-13.AN/FPS-49 has a traditional azimuth bearing assembly (race and steel balls) while the AN/FPS-92 has a hydrostatic bearing (antenna floats on a high pressure film of hydraulic fluid). AN/FPQ-16 Radar Set, Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System - PARCS: PARCS is a single faced phased array radar system consisting of AN/FPQ-16 radar and an AN/FSQ-100 computer system located at Cavalier AFS, ND. The primary mission of the PARCS is to provide theCMCwith TW/AA data on all SLBMs penetrating the coverage area.... FORCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (FMS) PROVIDES THE CONUS NORAD REGION COMMANDER WITH TIME SENSITIVE INFORMATION
  9. ^Pike, John."AN/FPS-115 PAVE PAWS Radar".
  10. ^"Clear Upgrade (U)".
  11. ^Stocker, Jeremy (2004). Gray, Colin S.; Murray, Williamson (eds.).Britain and Ballistic Missile Defence 1942-2002(PDF).Frank Cass.ISBN0-203-30963-4.ISSN1473-6403.Retrieved2014-03-09.in March 1963 an Air Ministry review of ABM systems said of MIDAS that 'performance to date has been disappointing'.78…A teletype circuit was established between NORAD and the ADOC in Britain to pass information derived from Site 1 at Thule.95This was supplemented by a voice circuit with agreed formatted messages, and both were operational by October 1960.… AN/FPS-49 Range resolution 240 nm Maximum range 2,650 nm Minimum target at 1,650 m 2.8 m2Impact accuracy North America 135 nm
  12. ^abPike, John."Clear AFS".
  13. ^"Eldorado AFS Dedication - 1987".
  14. ^"AN/FPS-120 Solid State Phased-Array System [SSPARS]: Clear Radar Upgrade".GlobalSecurity.org.Retrieved2014-03-08.
  15. ^Orban, SSgt. Brian (February 1995). "The trip wire".Guardian.Air Force Space Command. p. 6.North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Space Command command center.... For more than 30 years, the crews operating the missile warning center inside Cheyenne Mountain have maintained an early warning trip line [for] incoming ballistic missiles
  16. ^"Clear Air Force Station, Alaska".
  17. ^"Clear AFS, AK".GlobalSecurity.org.Retrieved2014-03-05.
  18. ^"AN/FPS-115, AN/FPS-120, AN/FPS-123, AN/FPS-126".
  19. ^abcdef"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2014-09-12.Retrieved2014-05-27.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. ^"US radar system a waste of money for Taiwan: Magazine｜Politics｜News｜WantChinaTimes".Archived fromthe originalon 2014-09-07.Retrieved2014-05-27.
  21. ^"AN/FPS-115, AN/FPS-120, AN/FPS-123, AN/FPS-126".Radomes.org.Retrieved2014-06-11.
  22. ^"Raytheon completes upgrades to BMEWS radar in Alaska - 16 Mar 2001".
  23. ^"W5YI".w5yi.org.
  24. ^Chatters, Maj Edward P IV; Crothers, Maj Brian J. (2009)."Chapter 19: Space Surveillance Network"(PDF).AU-18 Space Primer(PDF).Air University. p. 252.Retrieved2014-06-06.Perimeter Acquisition Vehicle Entry Phased-Array Weapons System (PAVE PAWS)
  25. ^"BAE Systems To Continue Maintaining SSPARS Radar Network for U.S. Air Force - SpaceNews".3 March 2014. Archived fromthe originalon March 19, 2014.
  26. ^"U.S. to Sell Large Early Warning Radar to Qatar (August 7, 2013) (corrected February 10, 2014)".7 August 2013.
  27. ^"Fylingdales".Raytheon.co.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 2014-03-11.Retrieved2014-03-08.
  28. ^"Avionics Magazine:: Northrop Grumman Sets T/R Module Standard".
  29. ^"ALERT"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2013-07-13.
  30. ^http:// radomes.org/museum/documents/CCAFS%20Tri-fold%20Brochure_10Jan08.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  31. ^PAVE PAWS, BMEWS, and PARCS Radar Systems(Solicitation),FedBizOpps.gov, January 23, 2012,retrieved2014-06-11,The PAVE PAWS and BMEWS Beam Steering Unit (BSU), Receiver Exciter (REX), Receiver Beam Former (RBF), Array Group Driver (AGD), Radio Frequency Monitor (RFM), Frequency Time Standard (FTS), and the Corporate Feed (CFD) were built for these five radars in the late 1970s and were upgraded in the 1980s.… The PARCS Signal Processing Group (SPG) has received only "band-aid" fixes since the site's Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in 1975
  32. ^"PAVE PAWS Radar Upgrades: Clear AFS Goes from Warning to BMD Targeting".
  33. ^"Qatar - AN/FPS-132 Block 5 Early Warning Radar | Defense Security Cooperation Agency".dsca.mil.Retrieved2023-06-26.
  34. ^Qatar long-range radar purchase moves forward,Jeremy Burnie,Jane's Defence Weekly,13 December 2016, accessed 2017-01-11

See Also

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