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Solid State Phased Array Radar System

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The Solid State Phased Array Radar System ( SSPARS ), colloquially Ballistic Missile Early Warning System radar network ( BMEWS radar network ), is a United States Space Force radar, computer, and communications system for missile warning and space surveillance. There are SSPARS systems at five sites: Beale Air Force Base , CA, Cape Cod Space Force Station , MA, Clear Space Force Station , AK, RAF Fylingdales , UK, and Pituffik Space Base , Greenland. The system completed replacement of the RCA 474L Ballistic Missile Early Warning System when the last SSPAR was operational at then- Clear Air Force Station in 2001.

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30-522: 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. The AN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) is a series of phased array radar systems used for long-range early warning and space surveillance , operating as part of

60-422: A (V) signifier. The (V) signifier would be warranted if the item accepted variable configurations of a particular component. For example: A suffix of "(P)" following the type designation number and any modification letters indicates a Unit which is designed to accept "plug-in" modules capable of changing the function, frequency, or other technical characteristics of the unit. The plug-in is not considered part of

90-466: A group or unit type designation that is already linked to a specific system/subsystem/center/central/set may use ( -FT, -IN) if the system/subsystem/center/central/set uses multiple of the group/unit and they are only distinguishable by length. This use is only for new assignments and will not be retroactive For example: Primary batteries (non-rechargeable) are designated using "BA"; Secondary type batteries (rechargeable) are designated using "BB". JETDS

120-616: Is assigned to: This system is separate from the "M" designation used in the Army Nomenclature System (MIL-STD-1464A). Items are given an Item Level which describes their hierarchy The core of the JETDS system is the combination of a Type Designation with an Item Name to specify a particular item. For example: The type designation is a unique series of letters and numbers which specifies an item. There are three basic forms of type designator used: The Type Designation

150-477: Is denoted by addition of the letter(s) "X", "Y", or "Z". The first such modification would be denoted with an "X", the second with a "Y", the third with a "Z", the fourth with an "XX", etc. If simultaneous modifications are made that improve the equipment as well as affect power input, then both a modification letter (A, B, C, D, etc.) as well as a power requirement modification letter (X, Y, Z, etc.) will be used. For example: A pair of parentheses surrounding where

180-424: Is designed specifically to provide training for one particular unit, then that unit may be specified. If it is a training equipment which can provide practice for various different sets/subsystems/systems etc., then that should be indicated with the appropriate letter indicators. For example: For example: A digit or digits in parentheses following the type designation letters indicates the type of ADPE included in

210-500: Is in lower case and may contain abbreviations (which are capitalized). The type designation does not use any spaces or hyphens (so "M-16" and "M 16" are incorrect). An example given is "PROJECTILE, 105 MILLIMETER: HE, rocket assisted, M547A3". The Approved Item Name is "PROJECTILE, 105 MILLIMETER"; the extended modifier(s) "HE, rocket assisted", and the type designation is "M547A3". The type designation may not be unique to that specific item and, thus, may not accurately identify an item if

240-503: Is made up of a two letter group indicator (from the table below), followed by a dash, a group number, followed by a slash, and 1-3 letters specifying the equipment it is "part of" or "used with" (see Table 1). If the group is unique and only "part of" or "used with" one particular equipment, that equipment may be specified. If the group may be used with multiple different items, then it is more appropriate to designate it more generally. For example: The type designation used to specify Units

270-456: Is made up of a unit letter(s) indicator (from the table below), followed by a dash, a unit number, followed by a slash, and 1-3 letters specifying the equipment it is part of or used with (see Table 1). As with Group type designations, if the Unit is unique and is "part of" or "used with" only one particular equipment, that equipment may be specified. If the unit is used with multiple different items,

300-521: Is not utilized if one of the following nomenclature systems can designate the item: The complete nomenclature consists of an Approved Item Name (AIN), an extended modifier (if applicable), and the type designation. The AIN is presented in all capital letters, is not abbreviated, and is followed by a colon. Each AIN has a corresponding 6-digit Item Name Code (INC) which can be referenced in the H6 Cataloging Handbook. The extended modifier

330-443: Is placed after the type designation number to signify a modification to a specific equipment that still retains at least one-way interchangeability with all previous versions. Modification letters begin with "A" and proceed sequentially. For more information on Interchangeability (see below). Note: the letters "I", "O", "Q", "S", "T", "X", "Y", and "Z" are not to be used as modification letters For example: A suffix "(V)" following

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360-494: Is used in conjunction with an approved Item Name drawn from the H-6 Item Name Directory. For example: The type designation used to specify Systems, Subsystems, Centers, Central, and Sets is made up of a prefix AN/ , three type designation indicator letters, a hyphen, and a type designation number. The AN prefix signifies Army-Navy. The three type designation letters (chosen from the table below) specify where

390-979: The Air Force Space Surveillance System by 2009. BAE Systems began a 2007 contract for SSPARS maintenance. The SSPARS radar electronics was subsequently upgraded, e.g., the Beale radar and the Fylingdales FPS-126 each became an AN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) by Raytheon. The Beale AN/FPS-123 was upgraded to a Raytheon AN/FPS-132 (UEWR) with capabilities to operate in the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) ABM system—the Beale UEWR included "Avionics", "T/R modules", "FEX/TTG", "BSG", "Signal Processor", and other changes. After additional UEWR installations for GMD at Thule Site J and

420-643: The United States Coast Guard in 1950, Canada in 1951 and the NSA in 1959 (though the NSA continued to use its own TSEC telecommunications security nomenclature ). In 1957 the U.S. Department of Defense approved a military standard for the nomenclature, MIL-STD-196. The system has been modified over time, with some types (e.g. carrier pigeon -B- ) dropped and others (e.g. computers and cryptographic equipment) added. The latest version, MIL-STD-196G,

450-720: The United States Missile Defense and Space Surveillance Network . Thus, the AN/FPS-132 represents the 132nd design of an Army-Navy “Fixed, Radar, Search” electronic device. The Solid State Phased Array Radar System is a phased array radar with 2500 "solid state transmitter" modules. It began replacing PAVE PAWS when the first AN/FPS-115 face was taken off-line for the radar upgrade. New AN/FPS-123 Early Warning Radars became operational in (Beale) and (Cape Cod) in each base's existing PAVE PAWS "Scanner Building". In 2001 SSPARS equipment included: After

480-588: The Approved Item Name and Extended Modifier are not included. For example, the type designation M1 is used in the M1 Carbine as well as the M1 Abrams tank , however, the former is specified as "CARBINE, CALIBER .30, M1" while the latter is specified as "TANK, COMBAT, FULL TRACKED: 105-MM Gun, M1". The type designation is rendered as a prefix letter(s) followed by a number, possibly followed by

510-691: The Fylingdales BMEWS radars had been replaced by Raytheon/ Cossor AeroSpace and Control Data Corporation (embedded CDC-Cyber computer) at a cost of US $ 100M, in February 1995 the "missile warning center at Cheyenne Mountain AS [was] undergoing a $ 450 million upgrade program". The entire SSPARS became operational on January 31, 2001 when the "SSPARS Site" at Clear AFS (separate from the BMEWS site) had Initial Operational Capability . The Clear AN/FPS-120

540-701: The UK (contracted 2003), a 2012 ESD/XRX Request for Information for replacement, and remote operation, of the remaining "PAVE PAWS/BMEWS/PARCS systems" at Cape Cod, Alaska, and North Dakota was issued. The Alaska AN/FPS-132 was contracted in fall 2012 and the Cape Cod installation in 2013. The AN/FPS-132 Block-5 was ordered by the Qatar Emiri Air Force , and is in construction. Active: Planned: Joint Electronics Type Designation System The Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS) , which

570-474: The equipment designation should include only the indicators which are common or appropriate. If a unit could be described by multiple indicators, the indicator which best describes the unit's primary function should be used. The exception would be if there exists a unit indicator which can describe the unit's multiple functions (see examples below); if such a multi-function describing unit indicator exists, then it should be used. For example: A modification letter

600-629: The equipment is used, what the equipment is, and what its purpose is. The type designation number helps specify the exact item; subsequent items with the same Installation/Type/Purpose are numbered sequentially (i.e. the next item developed after the AN/PRC-34 would be the AN/PRC-35). For example: * Additional info on Installation indicators: ** Additional info on Type of Equipment indicators: The type designation used to specify Groups (assemblies that are used in conjunction with others to function)

630-425: The item. For example: Maintenance equipment that is given a type designation is set up as AN/xxM, where the first two letters after the slash (signifying Installation and Type of equipment) are followed by an M. However, if a maintenance or test Unit or Group is considered a "part of" the item in question, it does not receive the M signifier. For example: A change in the power input voltage, phase, or frequency

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660-416: The manufacturer maintains design control are not covered. Electronic material, from a military point of view, generally includes those electronic devices employed in data processing, detection and tracking (underwater, sea, land-based, air and space), recognition and identification, communications, aids to navigation, weapons control and evaluation, flight control, and electronics countermeasures. Nomenclature

690-440: The plug-in's function, then the generic plug-in unit indicator (PL) will be used. For example: Type designators for groups and units like cables, waveguides, cords, etc. may also include a parenthetical "( -FT, -IN)" to designate the specified length. These type designators will not include a specified System/Subsystem/Center/Central/Set type designator after the / but will be given a more generic indicator like /U or /GR. However,

720-412: The type designation number and any modification letters indicates variable components or configurations for said Group/Set/Subsystem/System/Center/Central. A number may follow the parenthetical V to identify a specific configuration. For example: Note: A specific equipment should only be given a (V) signifier if it can be configured with different components, not simply because one of its components has

750-631: The type designation number would be located is used to signify an experimental or developmental model. Type designation number is not required but is useful for clarity. When the developmental model is ready for production, the parentheses are struck off. For example: Electronic type (non-rotating) servo amplifiers are designated "AM"; rotating type servo amplifiers are designated "PU". Plug-in Units which can be described by their function (like receiver, microphone, loudspeaker, etc.) will use those corresponding Unit indicators. If no indicator exists to describe

780-416: The unit itself. For example: A suffix of "(C)" following the type designation number and any modification letters indicates an item which directly contains NSA-controlled cryptographic material. For example: A suffix of "-T n ", where n is a number, indicates equipment (Set, Subsystem, System, Center, or Central) designed to provide training in the operation of a specific set or multiple sets. If it

810-653: Was adopted 16 February 1943 by the Joint Communications Board for all new Army and Navy airborne, radio, and radar equipment. Over time it was extended to cover the Marine Corps and the Navy's ship, submarine, amphibious, and ground electronic equipment. When the Air Force was established as a separate department, it continued the use of the system for electronic equipment. JETDS was adopted by

840-519: Was issued in 2018. Army Nomenclature System The Army Nomenclature System is a nomenclature system used by the US Army for giving type designations to its materiel . It is based on MIL-STD-1464A which was released in 1981 and most recently revised on February 22, 2021. The Army Nomenclature System is designed to help accurately reference specific items which may have similar names to other items of their category. It applies to: It

870-671: Was previously known as the Joint Army-Navy Nomenclature System (AN System. JAN) and the Joint Communications-Electronics Nomenclature System , is a method developed by the U.S. War Department during World War II for assigning an unclassified designator to electronic equipment. In 1957, the JETDS was formalized in MIL-STD-196 . Computer software and commercial unmodified electronics for which

900-813: Was subsequently "upgraded to the AN/FPS-123 model" SSPA Radar, and the SSPARS was modified in the Early Warning Radar Service Life Extension Program The US approved sale of an AN/FPS-115 to Taiwan in 2000 and it was introduced in 2006. The UK and Alaska BMEWS stations became SSPARS radar stations when their respective Raytheon AN/FPS-126 radar and 2001 Raytheon AN/FPS-120 became operational. In 2007, 100 owners/trustees of amateur radio repeaters near AN/FPS-123 radars were notified to lower their power output to mitigate interference, and AN/FPS-123s were part of

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