The AN/FPS-6 Radar was a long-range height finding radar used by the United States Air Force's Air Defense Command. The AN/FPS-6 radar was introduced into service in the late 1950s and served as the principal height-finder radar for the United States for several decades thereafter. It was also used by the Royal Air Force alongside their AMES Type 80s. Built by General Electric, the S-band radar operated on a frequency of 2700 to 2900 MHz. Between 1953 and 1960, about 450 units of the AN/FPS-6 and the mobile AN/MPS-14 version were produced. The AN/FPS-90 and AN/FPS-116 radars were identical to the AN/FPS-6 except for receiver modifications.
The radar consisted of an antenna group, a transmitter group, a receiver group, and an ancillary group. Most fixed sites had a remote group, which allowed the control of the radar from inside the operations center. Also located in operations, was the anti-jam receivers. These receivers were fed with raw video from the tower receiver, and output several types of processed video to enable operators to see through jamming.
The ancillary group originally consisted of an AN/OA-270 Range Height Indicator (RHI), and then later upgraded to an AN/OA-929 RHI, which displayed the raw or anti-jam video, and allowed the operator to position the azimuth of the antenna. At SAGE sites, the antenna azimuth was selected by command from the Air Division, and the operator could slew the antenna plus or minus ten degrees for fine adjustment.
The AN/FPS-90 radar was designated a high-power model, using a QK-338A magnetron and rated at 4.5 MW peak power, versus the QK-327A magnetron at 3.5 MW peak power. The receiver mixer was also modified to handle the larger signal dynamic range. Due to maintenance costs and high failure rates, these radars were all retrofitted to the same magnetron as the AN/FPS-6 by the late 1960s, and were no longer high power. The radar maintained its AN/FPS-90 designation due to the receiver modifications. Everything else was identical.
Under the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), all U.S. military radar and tracking systems are assigned a unique identifying alphanumeric designation. The letters “AN” (for Army-Navy) are placed ahead of a three-letter code.[1]
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.
Thus, the AN/FPS-6 represents the 6th design of an Army-Navy “Fixed, Radar, Search” electronic device.[2][1]
^ 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. p. 2-8.1.
^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. LCCN 97020912. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
general, electric, radar, radar, long, range, height, finding, radar, used, united, states, force, defense, command, radar, introduced, into, service, late, 1950s, served, principal, height, finder, radar, united, states, several, decades, thereafter, also, us. The AN FPS 6 Radar was a long range height finding radar used by the United States Air Force s Air Defense Command The AN FPS 6 radar was introduced into service in the late 1950s and served as the principal height finder radar for the United States for several decades thereafter It was also used by the Royal Air Force alongside their AMES Type 80s Built by General Electric the S band radar operated on a frequency of 2700 to 2900 MHz Between 1953 and 1960 about 450 units of the AN FPS 6 and the mobile AN MPS 14 version were produced The AN FPS 90 and AN FPS 116 radars were identical to the AN FPS 6 except for receiver modifications AN FPS 6General Electric AN FPS 6 RadarCountry of originUnited StatesTypeLong Range Height Finder RadarOther NamesAN MPS 14 Mobile version Contents 1 Operation 2 Classification of radar systems 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksOperation editThe radar consisted of an antenna group a transmitter group a receiver group and an ancillary group Most fixed sites had a remote group which allowed the control of the radar from inside the operations center Also located in operations was the anti jam receivers These receivers were fed with raw video from the tower receiver and output several types of processed video to enable operators to see through jamming The ancillary group originally consisted of an AN OA 270 Range Height Indicator RHI and then later upgraded to an AN OA 929 RHI which displayed the raw or anti jam video and allowed the operator to position the azimuth of the antenna At SAGE sites the antenna azimuth was selected by command from the Air Division and the operator could slew the antenna plus or minus ten degrees for fine adjustment The AN FPS 90 radar was designated a high power model using a QK 338A magnetron and rated at 4 5 MW peak power versus the QK 327A magnetron at 3 5 MW peak power The receiver mixer was also modified to handle the larger signal dynamic range Due to maintenance costs and high failure rates these radars were all retrofitted to the same magnetron as the AN FPS 6 by the late 1960s and were no longer high power The radar maintained its AN FPS 90 designation due to the receiver modifications Everything else was identical Classification of radar systems editFurther information Joint Electronics Type Designation System Under the Joint Electronics Type Designation System JETDS all U S military radar and tracking systems are assigned a unique identifying alphanumeric designation The letters AN for Army Navy are placed ahead of a three letter code 1 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 Thus the AN FPS 6 represents the 6th design of an Army Navy Fixed Radar Search electronic device 2 1 See also editJoint Electronics Type Designation System List of military electronics of the United StatesReferences edit a b Avionics 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 p 2 8 1 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 LCCN 97020912 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain External links edit nbsp This United States Air Force article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title General Electric AN FPS 6 Radar amp oldid 1188121065, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
