AN/SPS-55
AN/SPS-55 antenna on USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58) | |
| Country of origin | United States |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 1971 |
| Type | Surface-search |
| Frequency | I band (9.05 to 10.0 GHz) |
| Range | greater than 50 nautical miles (92.6 km) |
| Azimuth | 1.5º |
| Elevation | -10° to +10°, centered on the horizon |
| Power | 130-160 kW peak power |
The AN/SPS-55 is a solid state surface search and navigation radar. It was developed by Cardion Electronics for the U.S. Navy under a contract awarded in 1971. It was originally developed for a class of ships known as Patrol Frigates, but it was also installed on numerous Cruisers, Destroyers, and Minesweepers. It is an I band radar and its antenna consists of two waveguide slotted arrays mounted back-to-back. One array provides linear polarisation and the other provides circular polarisation. Polarisation is user selectable and the circular polarised array is more effective in reducing returns from precipitation.
In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the "AN/SPS-55" designation represents the 55th design of an Army-Navy electronic device for surface ship search radar system. The JETDS system also now is used to name all Department of Defense electronic systems.