AN/SPQ-11
Close-up of the front of Cobra Judy radar, 1983.
Country of originUnited States
Introduced1983
No. built1
TypePassive electronically scanned array radar
Frequency2900-3100 MHz (E\F band)
Aft view of the USNS Observation Island showing the location of the Cobra Judy array.

The AN/SPQ-11 Cobra Judy was a PESA radar found on the USNS Observation Island (T-AGM-23) missile range instrumentation ship.

It was used for space tracking, ballistic missiles tracking and other instrumentation. Cobra Judy was the sea component of the COBRA program for monitoring missile launches and outer space. Cobra Judy was replaced by the Cobra Judy Replacement (CJR) in April 2014.

Classification of radar systems

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, Q=Special Purpose, R=Receiving, S=Search, and T=Transmitting.

Thus, the AN/SPQ-11 represents the 11th design of an Army-Navy “Ship-mounted, Radar, Special Purpose” electronic device.[1][2]

Replacement

The Cobra Judy Platform, USNS Observation Island was taken out of service and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register March 31, 2014.[3] On 31 March 2014, the Cobra Judy Replacement program, aboard USNS Howard O. Lorenzen (T-AGM-25) reached initial operational capability (IOC). According to the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the U.S. Air Force also assumed operational and sustainment responsibilities for the ship.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 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.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ "USNS OBSERVATION ISLAND (T-AGM 23)". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  4. ↑ "Cobra Judy Replacement Achieves Initial Operational Capability". Navy.mil. 1 May 2014. No. NNS140501-26. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.