AN/SPQ-11

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 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 sea component of the COBRA program^{[clarification needed]} for monitoring missile launches and outer space. Cobra Judy was replaced by the Cobra Judy Replacement (CJR) in April 2014.

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Classification of radar systems

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.^[1]

The first letter of the three-letter code denotes the type of platform hosting the electronic device, where A=Aircraft, F=Fixed (land-based), S=Ship-mounted, and T=Ground transportable.
The second letter indicates the type of equipment, where P=Radar (pulsed), Q=Sonar, and R=Radio.
The third letter indicates the function or purpose of the device, where G=Fire control, Q=Special Purpose, R=Receiving, S=Search, and T=Transmitting.

Thus, the AN/SPQ-11 represents the 11th design of an Army-Navy “Ship-mounted, Radar, Special Purpose” electronic device.^[1]^[2]

Replacement

The Cobra Judy Platform, USNS Observation Island was taken out of service and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register March 31, 2014.^[3] On 31 March 2014, the Cobra Judy Replacement program, aboard USNS Howard O. Lorenzen (T-AGM-25) reached initial operational capability (IOC). According to the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the U.S. Air Force also assumed operational and sustainment responsibilities for the ship.^[4] The inertial navigation system for the antenna stabilization and alignment had been provided by iMAR Navigation.

References

^ ^a ^b 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.
^ "Cobra Judy Replacement Achieves Initial Operational Capability". Navy.mil. 1 May 2014. No. NNS140501-26. Retrieved 8 May 2014.