AN/SPQ-11
Close-up of the front of Cobra Judy radar, 1983 | |
| Country of origin | United States |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 1983 |
| No. built | 1 |
| Type | Passive electronically scanned array radar |
| Frequency | 2900–3100 MHz (E\F band) |
The AN/SPQ-11 Cobra Judy was a passive electronically scanned array (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 US Air Force code name for the afloat phased-array radar designed with the primary mission of monitoring Soviet missile tests operating in conjunction with land based phased-array radar Cobra Dane and Cobra Ball aircraft.[1] Cobra Judy was replaced by the Cobra Judy Replacement (CJR) project in April 2014.[2]
In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the "AN/SPQ-11" designation represents the 11th design of an Army-Navy electronic device for surface ship special radar system.[3][4] The JETDS system also now is used to name all Department of Defense electronic systems.
Replacement
[edit]The original Cobra Judy platform, USNS Observation Island, was taken out of service and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register 31 March 2014.[5] The same day, the Cobra Judy Replacement program whose radars are called Cobra King, reached initial operating capability (IOC) aboard USNS Howard O. Lorenzen (T-AGM-25). USNS Howard O. Lorenzen, together with her Cobra King radar system, were declared operational in August 2014.[6] According to Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the US Air Force also assumed operational and sustainment responsibilities for the ship.[7] The inertial navigation system for the antenna stabilization and alignment had been provided by iMAR Navigation GmbH. Raytheon manufactures and maintains the CJR's X and S-band radars.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Richelson, Jeffery (October 1986). "Monitoring the Soviet Military". Arms Control Today. 16 (7): 16. JSTOR 23623200.
- ^ Cobra Judy Replacement (CJR) (PDF) (Report). Washington, D.C.: Director, Operational Test and Evaluation. 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "USNS Observation Island (T-AGM 23)". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ Romano, Susan A. (7 August 2014). "AFTAC's maritime radar becomes operational". U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- ^ McHale III, John M (8 April 2013). "X-band and S-band radars for Cobra Judy Replacement program complete live-launch tests". Military Embedded Systems. Tewksbury, Massachusetts. Retrieved 12 August 2025.