Jura The idiot
General
oh I'm sorry, I was not aware of it (I wouldn't have mentioned
yeah I feel it's easy to second-guess on such a big radar set afloat ... thanks Jeff
SBX-1 Sea-based X-band Radar, US Pacific Command
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
oh I'm sorry, I was not aware of it (I wouldn't have mentioned
yeah I feel it's easy to second-guess on such a big radar set afloat ... thanks Jeff
There is a good history of the SBX-1 at the following link. it is a PDF file. Godd infor there:
Among many other things (including its operational history), it lists:
• The SBX-1 serves as the largest and most sophisticated phased array electro-mechanically steered X-band radar in the world. Steering ectronically within its field of coverage and mechanically in azimuth elevation allows the radar to track a full 360 degrees in azimuth and about 90 degrees in elevation from near the horizon to the zenith. As aresult, the radar can track objects as they fly toward, over, and away from the vesselthe vessel.
• Approximately 45,000 transmit/receive modules in the radar operatetogether to form the radar beam, which is capable of seeing an object the size of a baseball at a distance of 2,500 miles. Each module consists of the fi nal transmit stage and initial receive stage from each antenna element. The radar also uses 69,632 multi-sectional circuits to transmit, receive, and amplify signals.
• The SBX-1, which is capable of traveling 8 knots under its own power, measures 240 feet wide, 390 feet long, and 280 feet high from its keel to the top of the radar dome (radome).
• Air pressure alone supports the radome that surrounds the radar. The radome weighs 18,000 pounds, stands more than 103 feet high, and measures 120 feet in diameter. Moreover, the high-tech synthetic fabric allows the radome to withstand winds in excess of 130 miles per hour.
• The SBX-1 crew includes approximately 86 officers, civilians, and contractor personnel to carry out its mission.
• In addition to the inherent stability of the vessel, the radar itself provides electronic stabilization of the radar beam to continue mission operations as the vessel responds to changing sea conditions.
• The marine diesel fuel capacity of the SBX-1 is 1.8 million gallons.
• As the principle midcourse sensor for the BMDS, the radar’s major functions are cued search, precision tracking, object discrimination, and providing a missile kill assessment. The In-flight Interceptor Communication System Data Terminal communicates instructions from the GMD Fire Control
In its first at sea deployment in 2008, SBX-1 travelled more than 4,000 miles around the Pacific Ocean.
Among many other things (including its operational history), it lists:
• The SBX-1 serves as the largest and most sophisticated phased array electro-mechanically steered X-band radar in the world. Steering ectronically within its field of coverage and mechanically in azimuth elevation allows the radar to track a full 360 degrees in azimuth and about 90 degrees in elevation from near the horizon to the zenith. As aresult, the radar can track objects as they fly toward, over, and away from the vesselthe vessel.
• Approximately 45,000 transmit/receive modules in the radar operatetogether to form the radar beam, which is capable of seeing an object the size of a baseball at a distance of 2,500 miles. Each module consists of the fi nal transmit stage and initial receive stage from each antenna element. The radar also uses 69,632 multi-sectional circuits to transmit, receive, and amplify signals.
• The SBX-1, which is capable of traveling 8 knots under its own power, measures 240 feet wide, 390 feet long, and 280 feet high from its keel to the top of the radar dome (radome).
• Air pressure alone supports the radome that surrounds the radar. The radome weighs 18,000 pounds, stands more than 103 feet high, and measures 120 feet in diameter. Moreover, the high-tech synthetic fabric allows the radome to withstand winds in excess of 130 miles per hour.
• The SBX-1 crew includes approximately 86 officers, civilians, and contractor personnel to carry out its mission.
• In addition to the inherent stability of the vessel, the radar itself provides electronic stabilization of the radar beam to continue mission operations as the vessel responds to changing sea conditions.
• The marine diesel fuel capacity of the SBX-1 is 1.8 million gallons.
• As the principle midcourse sensor for the BMDS, the radar’s major functions are cued search, precision tracking, object discrimination, and providing a missile kill assessment. The In-flight Interceptor Communication System Data Terminal communicates instructions from the GMD Fire Control
In its first at sea deployment in 2008, SBX-1 travelled more than 4,000 miles around the Pacific Ocean.
The LA Times article was a typical hit piece that used to go unchallenged with no alternative means of mass communication. Now that the internet is here, try this:
Unlike the LA Times hit piece, this article is based on actual facts and historical records.
And yes Shen, the LA Times is a very liberal newspaper along with ABC/CBS/NBC/NPR/MSNBC/CNBC/AP/UPI/NY Times/Washington Post/etc etc etc.
I am old enough to remember the opening nights of Operation Desert Storm and the reaction of the American public being one of astonishment. All those weapon systems that they had been told for decades were worthless, "gold plated" failures were working as designed. Even the leftwing Saturday Night Live show was moved to do a skit featuring hostile reporters heckling military debriefers as they presented videos of laser guided bombs going straight down the central elevator shafts of Iraqi command centers. Before Desert Storm, the military was rated near the bottom of "institutional trust" among Americans. Afterwards, it was near the top. The "press" on the other hand keeps sinking lower and lower. The LA Times will just add to that downwards momentum.
shen
Senior Member
you call the LA Times article a hit piece, and then go quote an article from a K Street lobby site?
The original plan for ground based missile defense formulated under the Clinton administration called for 9 ground based X-band radars. That plan was changed during the Bush administration to fewer sea based X-band radars in order to save cost. So that doesn't quite fit the narrative for liberals hate defense/conservative pro defense. The very fact that only one SBX radar has ever been built and even that is not on fully operational status is proof enough the program is a failure. And the reason for no additional SBX is not budgetary as even more billions have already been allocated for the ground based follow up radar system to SBX.
The simple fact is SBX is a failed attempt of penny pinching program. Was it Rumsfeld's decision again?
Okay guys...let's let that be enough of the political-ideological side of this.
Let's keep the discussion purely on the technical merits and history for the future of this discussion and thread..
A huge amount of data has been gathered as a result of the SBX program.
Within the outlines of the program as defined by the MDA who created it, and which is available on their web site, SBX-1 has and does fill a role.
I do not believe that role was ever to defend against or provide data against a massive, multi-stream attack. It was to be able to provide data to either the land based interceptors or the sea based BMD, as necessary and applicable, for much more reduced level attacks.
In so doing it has allowed a LOT of information and experience to be gathered...and all of it is useful.
In addition, in the event of such an attack, if it helps defeat it...then it will have paid for itself many times over...and that is a good safeguard to have, in addition to the data and experience it is providing that will benefit other programs in the future.
Let's keep the discussion purely on the technical merits and history for the future of this discussion and thread..
A huge amount of data has been gathered as a result of the SBX program.
Within the outlines of the program as defined by the MDA who created it, and which is available on their web site, SBX-1 has and does fill a role.
I do not believe that role was ever to defend against or provide data against a massive, multi-stream attack. It was to be able to provide data to either the land based interceptors or the sea based BMD, as necessary and applicable, for much more reduced level attacks.
In so doing it has allowed a LOT of information and experience to be gathered...and all of it is useful.
In addition, in the event of such an attack, if it helps defeat it...then it will have paid for itself many times over...and that is a good safeguard to have, in addition to the data and experience it is providing that will benefit other programs in the future.