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US Navy Cruiser Conducts 1st Test of AN/SPQ-9B Periscope Detection & Discrimination Capability

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Naval Forces News - USA
 
 
 
US Navy Cruiser Conducts 1st Test of AN/SPQ-9B Periscope Detection & Discrimination Capability
 
The U.S. Navy concluded a successful light-off test of its upgraded Periscope Detection and Discrimination (PDD) capability for the AN/SPQ-9B Anti-Ship Missile Defense Radar onboard USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) March 12. The upgraded PDD capability represents a noteworthy improvement in submarine detection in support of the Navy's overall anti-surface warfare efforts.
     
The U.S. Navy concluded a successful light-off test of its upgraded Periscope Detection and Discrimination (PDD) capability for the AN/SPQ-9B Anti-Ship Missile Defense Radar onboard USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) March 12. The upgraded PDD capability represents a noteworthy improvement in submarine detection in support of the Navy's overall anti-surface warfare efforts.
The AN/SPQ-9B radar system provides U.S. Navy ships the capability to detect and track low-flying, high-speed, small Radar Cross Section anti-ship missile targets in heavy clutter environments.
     
Champlain is currently conducting live-fire testing off the coast of California with its 5-inch guns to verify the new mode on the SPQ-9B while the crew undergoes operator training to ensure proficiency with the new capability.

In December 2015, the Navy awarded a contract for AN/SPQ-9B production to Northrop Grumman to provide radar systems with the PDD mode to DDG 51-Class Destroyers.

"This award was a huge milestone for our SPQ-9B team," said Capt. Seiko Okano, SPQ-9B program manager. "The Navy is counting on us to deliver this vital system on schedule and this contract award keeps us on track to do exactly that."

The delivery of this capability represents the culmination of almost a decade of Navy investment in developing a periscope detection mode for the AN/SPQ-9B Radar and the collaborative efforts of NAVSEA agencies, Office of Naval Research, the Naval Research Laboratory, and Naval Surface and Expeditionary Warfare Command.

The system uses a high-resolution, track-while-scan, X-band, pulse-doppler radar to provide real time acquisition and automatic tracking of multiple surface and air targets while maintaining the surface detection, gunfire control and navigational capabilities. AN/SPQ-9B maximizes the use of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf and Non-Developmental Item equipment. It was designed specifically for the littoral environment. It has a very high clutter improvement factor supporting a very low false track rate in the littorals and in high clutter environments.

The radar interfaces with ship combat systems via various command and control systems including the Cooperative Engagement Capability, AEGIS/LAN Interconnect System, MK160 Gun Weapons System and Aegis Weapon System.