Solid State Phased Array Radar System: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:13, 26 January 2024

Latest revision as of 16:34, 23 July 2025

(19 intermediate revisions by 14 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Short description|American radar network}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

[[File:PAVE PAWS&BMEWS.svg|thumb|300px|Coverage of the original [[PAVE PAWS]] and [[BMEWS]] systems, later upgraded to SSPARS and eventually to UEWR]]

[[File:Radar RAF Fylingdales.jpg|thumb|BMEWS solid-state phased-array radar at [[RAF Fylingdales]]]]

The '''Solid State Phased Array Radar System'''{{r|Chapman}} ('''SSPARS'''), [[colloquialism|colloquially]] "BMEWS'''Ballistic Missile Early Warning System radar network'"'' as('''BMEWS late asradar 2004network'''),<ref>{{Cite report |editor1=Carter, Austin |editor2=Mattorano, Gino |year=2004 |title=Space Command Almanac 2004-2005 |url=http://www.afspc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-060316-011.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060711202348/http://www.afspc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-060316-011.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 July 2006 |publisher=HQ AFSPACECOMM Public Affairs }}</ref> is a [[United States Space Force]] radar, 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, and [[Pituffik Space Base]], Greenland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Operations, Maintenance and Support for the Solid State Phased Array Radar System (SSPARS) at 5 Geographically Separated Units WorldWide |url=https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=caf2eb4dbcca881980fb2e403a8e3194&_cview=0 |number=FA2517-04-R-0016 |publisher=FedBizOpps.gov |access-date=2014-03-13}}</ref> The system completed replacement of the [[Ballistic Missile Early Warning System|RCA 474L Ballistic Missile Early Warning System]] when the last SSPAR was wasbecame operational at then-[[Clear Space Force Station|Clear Air Force Station]] in 2001.{{r|Chapman}}

==Classification of radar systems==

Line 15 ⟶ 18:

==History==

The Solid State Phased Array Radar System is a phased array radar with 2500 "solid state transmitter" modules.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Radar Handbook | first=Merrill I. | last=Skolnik | url=http://www.geo.uzh.ch/microsite/rsl-documents/research/SARlab/GMTILiterature/PDF/Skolnik90.pdf {{Bare URL| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416175805/http://www.geo.uzh.ch/microsite/rsl-documents/research/SARlab/GMTILiterature/PDF/Skolnik90.pdf | archive-date=March 20222014-04-16}}</ref>

It began replacing PAVE PAWS when the first AN/FPS-115 face was taken off-line for the radar upgrade. New [[PAVE PAWS#Replacement|AN/FPS-123]] Early Warning Radars became operational inat (Beale) and (Cape Cod) in each base's existing PAVE PAWS "Scanner Building".<ref name=HAER>{{Cite report |title=Photographs [and<nowiki>]</nowiki> Written Historical and Descriptive Data: Cape Cod Air Station Technical Facility/Scanner Building and Power Plant |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/ma/ma1600/ma1633/data/ma1633data.pdf |access-date=2014-06-10 |quote=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 by [[Avco|Avco 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. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715034251/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/ma/ma1600/ma1633/data/ma1633data.pdf |archive-date=2014-07-15 }}</ref>

In 2001 SSPARS equipment included:

* '''Raytheon [[AN/FPS-123]] PAVE PAWS Radar'''<ref>{{Cite report |title=Communications-Electronics (C-E) Managers Handbook |url=http://nato.radioscanner.ru/files/article63/communications_elect.pdf |access-date=2014-03-13 |quote=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 the [[Cheyenne Mountain Complex|CMC]] with TW/AA data on all SLBMs penetrating the coverage area. ... FORCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (FMS) PROVIDES THE CONUS NORAD REGION COMMANDER WITH TIME SENSITIVE INFORMATION}}</ref> at [[Beale Air Force Base|Beale]] (FPS-115 [[Initial operating capability|IOC]] 4 April 4, 1980) and Cape Cod (FPS-115 [[Initial operating capability|IOC]] 15 August 15, 1980)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/pavepaws.htm|title=AN/FPS-115 PAVE PAWS Radar|first=John|last=Pike}}</ref>

* '''Raytheon [[PAVE PAWS#Replacement|AN/FPS-120]] Solid State Phased Array Radar''' at [[Thule Air Station|Thule]] ("2QFY87")<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/spp/military/program/nssrm/initiatives/clearu.htm|title=Clear Upgrade (U)|access-date=2015-04-04|archive-date=2008-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011183130/https://fas.org/spp/military/program/nssrm/initiatives/clearu.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> with greater radar capabilities than the FPS-115 PAVE PAWS radars

* '''Raytheon [[PAVE PAWS#Replacement|AN/FPS-126]] Solid State Phased Array Radar''' at [[RAF Fylingdales|Fylingdales]] with three faces for 360 degree coverage (constructed August 1989-October 1992)<ref name=UK>{{Cite book |last=Stocker |first=Jeremy |editor=Gray, Colin S. |editor2=Murray, Williamson |year=2004 |isbn=0-203-30963-4 |publisher=Frank Cass |title=Britain and Ballistic Missile Defence 1942-2002 |url=http://sobchak.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/britain-and-ballistic-missile-1942-2002.pdf |issn=1473-6403 |access-date=2014-03-09 |quote=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.⁹⁵ This 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 m² Impact accuracy North America 135 nm}}</ref>

*'''Raytheon AN/FPS-120<ref name=GlobalSecurityClear>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/facility/clear.htm|title=Clear AFS|first=John|last=Pike}}</ref> Solid State Phased Array Radar''' using an older antenna from the 1987<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radomes.org/museum/parsehtml.php?html=EldoradoAFSPAVEPAWSTXdedication87.html&type=doc_html|title=Eldorado AFS Dedication - 1987}}</ref> [[Eldorado Air Force Station|PAVE PAWS EWR in Texas]] (groundbreaking April 16, April 1998,{{r|GlobalSecurityClear}} for the "Clear Radar Upgrade")<ref>{{Cite web |title=AN/FPS-120 Solid State Phased-Array System [SSPARS]: Clear Radar Upgrade |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/sspars.htm |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |access-date=2014-03-08}}</ref>

After the Fylingdales BMEWS radars had been replaced by Raytheon/[[Cossor AeroSpace]] and [[Control Data Corporation]] (embedded CDC-Cyber computer) at a cost of US $100M,{{Citation needed|reason=This claim was in the BMEWS article.date=March 2014|date=March 2014}} in February 1995 the "missile warning center at [[Cheyenne Mountain Air Station|Cheyenne Mountain AS]] [was] undergoing a $450 million upgrade program".<ref name=Orban1995>{{cite news|last=Orban|first=SSgt. Brian|date=February 1995|title=The trip wire|newspaper=Guardian|publisher=Air Force Space Command|page=6|quote=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}}</ref> The entire SSPARS became operational on 31 January 31, 2001 when the "SSPARS Site"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/clear-air-force-station-alaska/|title=Clear Air Force Station, Alaska}}</ref> at Clear AFS (separate from the BMEWS site) had [[Initial Operational Capability]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clear AFS, AK |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/facility/clear.htm |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |access-date=2014-03-05}}</ref> The Clear AN/FPS-120 was subsequently "upgraded to the AN/FPS-123 model" SSPA Radar,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radomes.org/museum/equip/fps-115.html|title=AN/FPS-115, AN/FPS-120, AN/FPS-123, AN/FPS-126}}</ref> and the SSPARS was modified in the '''Early Warning Radar Service Life Extension Program'''<ref name=Chapman>{{Cite book |last=Chapman |first=Bert |title=Space Warfare and Defense: A Historical Encyclopedia and Research Guide |year=2008 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=978-1-59884-006-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ae9f-7bV5w4C&q=%22Early+Warning+Radar%22+SSPARS&pg=PA153 |format=Google books |access-date=2014-03-13 |quote=BMEWS was replaced by the Solid State Phased Array Radar System (SSPARS) in 2001.}}</ref> The US approved sale of an{{Which|reason=Was the Robins AFB PAVE PAWS the one sold to Taiwan?|date=March 2014}} AN/FPS-115 to Taiwan in 2000<ref name="MDA">{{citeCite web | url=http://www.mda.mil/global/documents/pdf/uewr1.pdf | title=ArchivedUpgraded copyEarly Warning Radars, AN/FPS-132 | access-date=2014-05-27 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912144237/http://www.mda.mil/global/documents/pdf/uewr1.pdf | archive-date=2014-09-12 }}</ref> and it was introduced in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20130730000090&cid=1101 |title=US radar system a waste of money for Taiwan: Magazine｜Politics｜News｜WantChinaTimes.com |access-date=2014-05-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907212831/http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20130730000090&cid=1101 |archive-date=2014-09-07 }}</ref>

[[RAF Fylingdales|The UK]] and [[Clear Air Force Station|Alaska]] BMEWS stations became SSPARS radar stations when their respective [[Raytheon AN/FPS-126 Solid State Phased Array Radar|AN/FPS-126]] radar <ref name=Radomes>{{Cite web |title=AN/FPS-115, AN/FPS-120, AN/FPS-123, AN/FPS-126 |url=http://www.radomes.org/museum/equip/fps-115.html |publisher=Radomes.org |access-date=2014-06-11}}</ref> and 2001 [[Raytheon AN/FPS-120 Solid State Phased Array Radar|AN/FPS-120]] became operational.<ref name=CRU>{{cite web|url=http://radomes.org/museum/documents/BMEWSSite2ClearAKnewradar032001.html|title=Raytheon completes upgrades to BMEWS radar in Alaska - 16 Mar 2001|access-date=3 May 2015|archive-date=29 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229012338/http://radomes.org/museum/documents/BMEWSSite2ClearAKnewradar032001.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2007, 100 owners/trustees of amateur radio repeaters near AN/FPS-123 radars were notified to lower their power output to mitigate interference,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.w5yi.org/ama_news_article.php?id=191|title=W5YI |publisher=w5yi.org}}</ref> and AN/FPS-123s were part of the [[Air Force Space Surveillance System]] by 2009.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Chatters |first1=Maj Edward P IV |last2=Crothers |first2=Maj Brian J. |year=2009 |title=AU-18 Space Primer |url=http://aupress.maxwell.af.mil/digital/pdf/book/AU-18.pdf |chapter=Chapter 19: Space Surveillance Network |chapter-url=http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/space/au-18-2009/au-18_chap19.pdf |publisher=Air University |page=252 |access-date=2014-06-06 |quote=Perimeter Acquisition Vehicle Entry Phased-Array Weapons System (PAVE PAWS) |archive-date=2013-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217144244/http://aupress.maxwell.af.mil/digital/pdf/book/AU-18.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[BAE Systems]] began a 2007 contract for SSPARS maintenance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacenews.com/article/military-space/39693bae-systems-to-continue-maintaining-sspars-radar-network-for-us-air|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140319131750/http://www.spacenews.com/article/military-space/39693bae-systems-to-continue-maintaining-sspars-radar-network-for-us-air|archive-date=March 19, 2014|title=BAE Systems To Continue Maintaining SSPARS Radar Network for U.S. Air Force - SpaceNews.com|date=3 March 2014}}</ref> The SSPARS radar electronics was subsequently upgraded, e.g., the Beale radar<ref name="MDA"/> and the Fylingdales FPS-126 each became an [[AN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar]] (UEWR)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mostlymissiledefense.com/2013/08/07/u-s-to-sell-large-early-warning-radar-to-qatar-august-7-2013/|title=U.S. to Sell Large Early Warning Radar to Qatar (August 7, 2013) (corrected February 10, 2014)|date=7 August 2013}}</ref> by Raytheon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fylingdales |url=http://www.raytheon.co.uk/ourcompany/facilities/fylingdales/index.html |publisher=Raytheon.co.uk |access-date=2014-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311182300/http://www.raytheon.co.uk/ourcompany/facilities/fylingdales/index.html |archive-date=2014-03-11 }}</ref> The Beale AN/FPS-123 was upgraded to a Raytheon '''AN/FPS-132 (UEWR)''' with capabilities to operate in the [[Ground-based Midcourse Defense]] (GMD) ABM system—the Beale UEWR included "Avionics", "T/R modules",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aviationtoday.com/av/topstories/Northrop-Grumman-Sets-TR-Module-Standard_73016.html#.U5cyXUnnb4Y|title=Avionics Magazine :: Northrop Grumman Sets T/R Module Standard}}</ref> "FEX/TTG", "BSG", "Signal Processor", and other changes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/logistics_material_readiness/contracts/HQ0006-01-C-0001.pdf|title=ALERT|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713032135/http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/logistics_material_readiness/contracts/HQ0006-01-C-0001.pdf|archive-date=2013-07-13}}</ref> After additional UEWR installations for GMD at Thule Site J and the UK (contracted 2003),<ref name="radomes.org">{{Cite web| title=History of Cape Cod Air Force Station | url=http://www.radomes.org/museum/documents/CCAFS%20Tri-fold%20Brochure_10Jan08.pdf {{Bare| URLarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813154829/http://www.radomes.org:80/museum/documents/CCAFS%20Tri-fold%20Brochure_10Jan08.pdf PDF| archive-date=March 20222012-08-13}}</ref> a 2012 ESD/XRX [[Request for Information]] for replacement, and remote operation, of the remaining "PAVE PAWS/BMEWS/PARCS systems" at Cape Cod, Alaska, and North Dakota was issued.<ref name=FBO2f3973>{{Citation |format=Solicitation |date=January 23, 2012 |title=PAVE PAWS, BMEWS, and PARCS Radar Systems |url=https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=2f3973d6a7d33a330f489cad72702494&tab=core&_cview=0 |number=1262012 |publisher=FedBizOpps.gov |access-date=2014-06-11 |quote=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}}</ref> The Alaska AN/FPS-132 was contracted in fall 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/BMEWS-Radar-Upgrades-Clear-AFS-Goes-from-Warning-to-BMD-Targeting-07532/|title=PAVE PAWS Radar Upgrades: Clear AFS Goes from Warning to BMD Targeting}}</ref> and the Cape Cod installation in 2013.<ref name="MDA"/>

The AN/FPS-132 Block-5 was ordered by the [[Qatar Emiri Air Force]], and is in construction.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qatar - AN/FPS-132 Block 5 Early Warning Radar {{!}} Defense Security Cooperation Agency |url=https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/qatar-anfps-132-block-5-early-warning-radar |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=www.dsca.mil}}</ref>

Line 36 ⟶ 39:

|image1=[https://www.flickr.com/photos/usairforce/7414560082/ AN/FPS-132 UEWR]

}}

* [[Solid-state (electronics)|Solid-state]] [[phased -array radar]]

** Each radar installation has multiple faces, where each face provides a 120-degree coverage.<ref name="MDA"/>

* Operating frequency: [[Ultra high frequency]] (UHF)<ref name="MDA"/>

Line 53 ⟶ 56:

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==See also==

{{Portal|Electronics}}

*[[List of radars]]

*[[List of military electronics of the United States]]

{{United States Missile Defense}}

Line 64 ⟶ 72:

[[Category:Military radar networks]]

[[Category:United States Space Surveillance Network]]

[[Category:Military electronics of the United States]]