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AN/SPS-8

Description of the radar set, tactical-technical characteristics

Figure 1: AN/SPS-8

Figure 1: AN/SPS-8

Specifications
AN/SPS-8AN/SPS-8A
frequency: 3 430 … 3 570 MHz
(S-Band)
pulse repetition time (PRT):
pulse repetition frequency (PRF): 500 or
1000 Hz
450 or
700 Hz
pulsewidth (τ): 1 or 2 µs2 µs
receive time:
dead time:
peak power: 650 kW1 MW
average power:
instrumented range: 60 NM
(≙ 111 km)
72 NM
(≙ 133 km)
range resolution:
accuracy:
horizontal beamwidth: 3.5°1.5°
vertical beamwidth: 1.1°1.2°
hits per scan:
antenna rotation:
MTBCF:
MTTR:

AN/SPS-8

The AN/SPS-8 and AN/SPS-8A are shipboard integrated S-Band search and height finding radar systems used for the detection and surveillance of aircraft. The AN/SPS-8 was the main early post-war height-finder. It presents target height, slant range, bearing, and beacon information. The 5 × 15 ft orange-peel shaped parabolic antenna was precisely stabilized by use of a stable element and the roll and pitch servo loops.

AN/SPS-8 used a special Robinson Scanner that scanned electically the elevation angle. The height-finders could be directed to look in a set direction, the feed nodding the beam up and down up to twenty times each minute or they could scan in azimuth as well.

The modernized AN/SPS-8A got a higher-gain astigmatic formed (nearly circular) antenna (12 × 15 ft). When the new antenna was combined with a much more powerful transmitter tube, the radar got the new designator AN/SPS-30. AN/SPS-8 and AN/SPS-30 were the standard height-finders of US carriers through the mid1960s.

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