 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)[1] |
| 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.[2]
- ^ FAS.org - AN/SPS-55
- ^ Electronics Technician Vol 7 - AN/SPS-55 Archived September 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine