AN/SPS-49

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**AN/SPS-49**
AN/SPS-49 on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)
Country of origin	United States
Introduced	1975
Number built	200+
Type	2D Air-search
Frequency	L band 850–942 MHz
Range	250 nmi (460 km)
Altitude	up to 150,000 ft (45,720 m)
Diameter	24 ft (7.3 m) × 14 ft 3 in (7.3 m × 4.3 m)
Azimuth	0-360°
Precision	0.03 nmi range 0.5 deg azimuth (SPS-49(V)5)

The AN/SPS-49 is a United States Navy two-dimensional, long range air search radar built by Raytheon that is capable of providing contact bearing and range. The radar is also used by several other countries, such as Australia, Canada, Spain and Taiwan aboard Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates and Canadian Halifax-class frigates.

1 Operation
2 Variants
3 References
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Operation

First tested in 1965 aboard USS Gyatt (DD-712) and introduced in 1975, the SPS-49 serves as a primary air-search radar aboard numerous ships world wide. It is also serves in a complementary role aboard Aegis cruisers with the AN/SPY-1. It is an L band radar operating in the 850–942 MHz band and has a range of 250 nautical miles (460 km). The orange-peel parabolic shape of the antenna creates a narrow 3.3° beam reducing the probability of detection or jamming. It is also capable of rotating at 6 rpm for long range mode or 12 rpm in short range mode.^[1] To guard against incoming missiles, default operation of the AN/SPS-49A(V)1 is at 12 rpm, in order to provide more frequent scans. The SPS-49A is capable of full-range detection in either 6 or 12 rpm modes.

[edit] Variants

AN/SPS49(V)1 - Baseline radar (Various CVN, LHA, LSD and other ships)
AN/SPS49(V)2 - (V)1 radar without the coherent side lobe cancellation feature ( Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates)
AN/SPS49(V)3 - (V)1 radar with the radar video processor (RVP) interface (FC-1) (USS Long Beach (CGN-9))
AN/SPS49(V)4 - (V)2 with the RVP interface ( Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates)
AN/SPS49(V)5 - (V)1 with automatic target detection (ATD) (New Threat Upgrade (NTU) ships)
AN/SPS49(V)6 - (V)3 system with double shielded cables and a modified cooling system (USS Ticonderoga (CG-47))
AN/SPS49(V)7 - (V)5 system with a (V)6 cooling system (Aegis combat system)
AN/SPS49(V)8 - (V)5 system enhanced to include the AEGIS Tracker modification kit (Aegis combat system)
AN/SPS49(V)9 - (V)5 with medium PRF upgrade (MPU)