AN/SPS-8

AN/SPS-8B aboard the USS Providence
Country of origin	United States
Manufacturer	General Electric
Introduced	1952
Type	2D
Frequency	S Band
PRF	1000 Hz
Beamwidth	3.5°
Pulsewidth	2 µs
Range	111 km (60 nmi)
Power	650 kW

AN/SPS-8 is a two-dimensional radar manufactured by General Electric. It was used by the US Navy as a height finding radar after World War II, and was equipped aboard naval ships during the Cold War. Variants include AN/SPS-8A, AN-SPS/8B, AN/SPS-8C and AN/SPS-8D After modernization, it was redesignated as AN/SPS-30.^[1]

It worked in two modes in terms of range - with a pulse frequency of 1000 Hz (pulse duration 1 μs, range 154 km) and 500 Hz (2 μs, 308 km). In a real situation, the F2H aircraft was detected at a distance of 111 km (SPS-8A / B modifications - 133 km).

The target elevation angle was determined by scanning the beam in the vertical plane with a frequency of 5, 10 or 20 Hz (in the SPS-8B modification -6, 12 and 16.5 Hz). The accuracy of determining the height was 150 m. The deflection of the beam in elevation was carried out by a Robinson Scanner feed in modifications SPS-8 and SPS-8A and an organ-type feed in modification SPS-8B

In the SPS-8A modification, the capacity was increased from 650 kW to 1 MW with a design capacity of 2 MW. In the 2-μs pulse mode, pulse repetition rates of 450 and 750 Hz were provided.

The SPS-8 and SPS-8A used the same mesh antennas. SPS-8B, first tested in January–June 1956 and put into service in 1959, had a high gain antenna (41 instead of 37.4 dB), a narrower beam (1.2 ° × 1.5 °) wider scanning sector in elevation (12 °) at a vertical scanning frequency of 6, 12 and 16.5 Hz.

The information was displayed on the VK circular view indicator (Model VK Plan Position Indicator) and the VL range-height indicator (Model VL Range-Height Indicator).

• Essex-class aircraft carrier

• 

  Midway-class aircraft carrier
• Forrestal-class aircraft carrier
• Independence-class aircraft carrier
• Iowa-class battleship
• Baltimore-class cruiser
• Worcester-class cruiser
• Boston-class cruiser
• Providence-class cruiser
• Galveston-class cruiser
• Mitscher-class destroyer
• Gearing-class destroyer
• Guardian-class radar picket ship^[2]

• HMCS Bonaventure

Based on the SPS-8B, the best American sweeping beam radar, the SPS-30, was created, which used a high gain antenna and a 2.5 MW klystron. Work on its creation began in 1956. It is a three-dimensional radar.

It was planned to upgrade the SPS-8 and SPS-8A to SPS-8C / D with the installation of the same antennas and klystrons as on the SPS-30, but these plans were not implemented, although at the end of 1957, 30 new antennas were produced.

A modification of the SPS-8 was the CXRX radar,

• Essex-class aircraft carrier
• Boston-class cruiser
• USS Atlanta
• Galveston-class cruiser
• Gearing-class destroyer

• HMCS Bonaventure

• List of radars
• List of military electronics of the United States
• Radar configurations and types
• Height finding radar

• Norman Friedman (2006). The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9781557502629 ^[ja]
• Self-Defense Force Equipment Yearbook 2006-2007. Asaun News Agency. ISBN 4-7509-1027-9