Solid State Phased Array Radar System: Difference between revisions

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After the Fylingdales BMEWS radars had been replaced by Raytheon/[[Cossor AeroSpace]] and [[Control Data Corporation]] (embedded CDC-Cyber computer) at a cost of US $100M,{{Citation needed|reason=This claim was in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 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">{{cite web |url=http://www.mda.mil/global/documents/pdf/uewr1.pdf |title=Archived copy |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}}</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)}}</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">http://www.radomes.org/museum/documents/CCAFS%20Tri-fold%20Brochure_10Jan08.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</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>