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AN/FPS-35

October 30, 2023

The AN/FPS-35 frequency diversity radar was a long range search radar used in the early 1960s. It was one of the largest air defense radars ever produced, with its antenna and supporting structure mounted on one of the largest rolling-element bearings in the world (with a ball pitch of 12 ft 7 inches in diameter.).[1]

Overview edit

Sperry Corporation built 12 long range radars (picking up objects 200 miles away) in the 1960s to succeed existing Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) to provide enhanced electronic countermeasures (ECM). The systems operated at 420 to 450 MHz. The antennas weighed 70 to 80 short tons (64 to 73 t) and had numerous problems. The concrete tower bases were 84 feet 6 inches (25.76 m) high and 60 feet 3 inches (18.36 m) square in side dimensions.

The prototype was developed at the Thomasville Aircraft Control and Warning Station in Thomasville, Alabama.[2]

The 85 foot (26 m) enclosed radar towers that supported all 12 of the FPS-35 antennas were prominent landmarks. All these radar towers were of the same basic design with 10 made primarily from concrete and two based on a steel frame structure (Baker and Finley). Only the radar tower at Baker has been demolished.[2]

The 23 radar towers used by the AN/FPS-24 and the AN/FPS-35 radar sets were of similar designs (concrete or steel frame) and were designed under the direction of the Rome Air Development Center (RADC). The radar tower at Thomasville has an RADC plaque next to the one from the Sperry Corporation. Only the AN/FPS-35 tower at Baker included a radome to protect the antenna. This radome was attached to a separate steel tower called a Radome Support Structure (RSS) that surrounded the radar tower to its full height of 85 feet (26 m).[2] With the antenna, the structure's total height is 150 feet (46 m).


Montauk tower edit

AN/FPS-35 Radar Tower and Antenna
 
The AN-FPS-35 Radar at Camp Hero State Park in Montauk, New York. The radar rises well above its surrounding trees.
Nearest cityMontauk, New York
Coordinates41°3′44.81″N 71°52′28.24″W / 41.0624472°N 71.8745111°W / 41.0624472; -71.8745111
Built1960
NRHP reference No.02000615
Added to NRHPJune 4, 2002[3]

All of the radars have been dismantled except for the one at Camp Hero State Park on the eastern tip of Long Island in Montauk, New York. It was the last to operate (January 1981) and the radar tower is the only one that still has an antenna on the roof and contains some of the radar set equipment and cabinets. The antenna was repaired with parts from the Sault Ste. Marie station after it closed in October 1979. The Montauk antenna is very corroded and can not be rotated.[2]

The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.[3][4] Fishermen on the Atlantic Ocean and Block Island Sound lobbied to save it since the massive radar tower was a better daytime landmark than the Montauk Point Lighthouse.[5]

The 150-foot tower dominates the environs and can be seen from as far away as Charlestown, Rhode Island, to the east (22 miles) and Orient Point, New York (20 miles) to the west.


The Montauk radar has worked its way into an urban legend that it was used in time travel experiments called the Montauk Project.

List of towers edit

References edit

  1. ^ Blatter, Francis P. (1960). "Mechanical Considerations in Antenna Design". Sperry Engineering Review: 55, 58.
  2. ^ a b c d "AN/FPS-35". Radomes.org. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
  3. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  4. ^ Warren, James (February 2002). . New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original on 2012-03-04. Retrieved 2008-07-28. Note: This includes "Accompanying 11 photos, undated". and "Accompanying nomination correspondence".
  5. ^ Drumm, Russell (December 23, 1999). "Rally Round The Radar". The East Hampton Star. Retrieved 2009-10-12.[permanent dead link]

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to AN/FPS-35.
  • FAS.ORG list of radars
  • Radomes.org Article on the Radar

October 30, 2023
this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, april, 2009, learn, when, r. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources AN FPS 35 news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message The AN FPS 35 frequency diversity radar was a long range search radar used in the early 1960s It was one of the largest air defense radars ever produced with its antenna and supporting structure mounted on one of the largest rolling element bearings in the world with a ball pitch of 12 ft 7 inches in diameter 1 Contents 1 Overview 2 Montauk tower 3 List of towers 4 References 5 External linksOverview editSperry Corporation built 12 long range radars picking up objects 200 miles away in the 1960s to succeed existing Semi Automatic Ground Environment SAGE to provide enhanced electronic countermeasures ECM The systems operated at 420 to 450 MHz The antennas weighed 70 to 80 short tons 64 to 73 t and had numerous problems The concrete tower bases were 84 feet 6 inches 25 76 m high and 60 feet 3 inches 18 36 m square in side dimensions The prototype was developed at the Thomasville Aircraft Control and Warning Station in Thomasville Alabama 2 The 85 foot 26 m enclosed radar towers that supported all 12 of the FPS 35 antennas were prominent landmarks All these radar towers were of the same basic design with 10 made primarily from concrete and two based on a steel frame structure Baker and Finley Only the radar tower at Baker has been demolished 2 The 23 radar towers used by the AN FPS 24 and the AN FPS 35 radar sets were of similar designs concrete or steel frame and were designed under the direction of the Rome Air Development Center RADC The radar tower at Thomasville has an RADC plaque next to the one from the Sperry Corporation Only the AN FPS 35 tower at Baker included a radome to protect the antenna This radome was attached to a separate steel tower called a Radome Support Structure RSS that surrounded the radar tower to its full height of 85 feet 26 m 2 With the antenna the structure s total height is 150 feet 46 m Montauk tower editAN FPS 35 Radar Tower and AntennaU S National Register of Historic Places nbsp The AN FPS 35 Radar at Camp Hero State Park in Montauk New York The radar rises well above its surrounding trees Nearest cityMontauk New YorkCoordinates41 3 44 81 N 71 52 28 24 W 41 0624472 N 71 8745111 W 41 0624472 71 8745111Built1960NRHP reference No 02000615Added to NRHPJune 4 2002 3 All of the radars have been dismantled except for the one at Camp Hero State Park on the eastern tip of Long Island in Montauk New York It was the last to operate January 1981 and the radar tower is the only one that still has an antenna on the roof and contains some of the radar set equipment and cabinets The antenna was repaired with parts from the Sault Ste Marie station after it closed in October 1979 The Montauk antenna is very corroded and can not be rotated 2 The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 3 4 Fishermen on the Atlantic Ocean and Block Island Sound lobbied to save it since the massive radar tower was a better daytime landmark than the Montauk Point Lighthouse 5 The 150 foot tower dominates the environs and can be seen from as far away as Charlestown Rhode Island to the east 22 miles and Orient Point New York 20 miles to the west The Montauk radar has worked its way into an urban legend that it was used in time travel experiments called the Montauk Project List of towers editAL Thomasville 31 56 18 N 87 45 01 W 31 9382 N 87 7502 W 31 9382 87 7502 CA Boron 35 04 56 N 117 34 56 W 35 0823 N 117 5823 W 35 0823 117 5823 MI Sault Ste Marie 46 27 23 N 84 23 16 W 46 4565 N 84 3878 W 46 4565 84 3878 MI Selfridge 42 37 39 N 82 49 48 W 42 6275 N 82 8300 W 42 6275 82 8300 NV Fallon 39 24 19 N 118 43 21 W 39 4054 N 118 7224 W 39 4054 118 7224 NY Montauk 41 03 44 N 71 52 26 W 41 0622 N 71 8740 W 41 0622 71 8740 ND Finley 47 30 58 N 97 52 07 W 47 5161 N 97 8687 W 47 5161 97 8687 steel tower present ND Fortuna 48 54 15 N 103 51 59 W 48 9042 N 103 8665 W 48 9042 103 8665 PA Benton 41 21 27 N 76 17 35 W 41 3574 N 76 2930 W 41 3574 76 2930 VA Manassas 38 37 44 N 77 26 19 W 38 6288 N 77 4385 W 38 6288 77 4385 WI Antigo 45 02 54 N 89 14 02 W 45 048333 N 89 233889 W 45 048333 89 233889 OR Baker 44 35 11 N 117 47 14 W 44 586389 N 117 787222 W 44 586389 117 787222 steel tower demolished References edit Blatter Francis P 1960 Mechanical Considerations in Antenna Design Sperry Engineering Review 55 58 a b c d AN FPS 35 Radomes org Retrieved 2008 01 08 a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service January 23 2007 Warren James February 2002 National Register of Historic Places Registration AN FPS 35 Radar Tower and Antennae New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation Archived from the original on 2012 03 04 Retrieved 2008 07 28 Note This includes Accompanying 11 photos undated and Accompanying nomination correspondence Drumm Russell December 23 1999 Rally Round The Radar The East Hampton Star Retrieved 2009 10 12 permanent dead link External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to AN FPS 35 FAS ORG list of radars Radomes org Article on the Radar Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title AN FPS 35 amp oldid 1172615711, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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