AN/SPQ-11

AN/SPQ-11
Close-up of the front of Cobra Judy radar, 1983
Country of originUnited States
Introduced1983
No. built1
TypePassive electronically scanned array radar
Frequency2900–3100 MHz (E\F band)
Aft view of the USNS Observation Island showing the location of the Cobra Judy array.

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

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

References

  1. ^ Richelson, Jeffery (October 1986). "Monitoring the Soviet Military". Arms Control Today. 16 (7): 16. JSTOR 23623200.
  2. ^ Cobra Judy Replacement (CJR) (PDF) (Report). Washington, D.C.: Director, Operational Test and Evaluation. 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "USNS Observation Island (T-AGM 23)". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Cobra Judy Replacement Achieves Initial Operational Capability". Navy.mil. 1 May 2014. No. NNS140501-26. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  8. ^ 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.
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