Cobra Dane
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Cobradane.jpg/220px-Cobradane.jpg)
The AN/FPS-108 COBRA DANE is a
The "COBRA" designation indicates a general Defense Intelligence program.[3]
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.[4]
- 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, R=Receiving, S=Search, and T=Transmitting.
Thus, the AN/FPS-108 represents the 108th design of an Army-Navy “Fixed, Radar, Search” electronic device.[4][5]
Description
It initially employed a
The Cobra Dane radar has been upgraded to be integrated in the Missile Defenses Agency's (MDA) Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). The improvement includes midcourse BMDS sensor coverage by providing acquisition, tracking, object classification, and data that can be used for cueing, launch of interceptor missiles, and course updates of interceptors while retaining the site's legacy intelligence and space track missions. The Space Force maintains responsibility for the Cobra Dane radar operations, maintenance, and sustainment.[8]
Technical specifications
- Traveling wave tube l-fed phased-array, all-weather, long-range radar
- Provides midcourse coverage for the Ballistic Missile Defense System. Detects sea-launched or intercontinental ballistic missiles; Classifies reentry vehicles and other missile objects. Provides real-time information to Fire Control.
- Provides tracking of threat ballistic missiles sufficiently accurate to commit the launch of interceptors and to update the target tracks to the interceptor while the interceptor is in flight
- Has one radar face providing 136° of azimuth coverage. The radar face is approximately 95 feet in diameter; overall radar height is 120 feet. Detects objects out to 2000 miles. It operates in the L-band frequency.[9]
See also
- Cobra Ball
- Cobra Eye
- AN/SPQ-11 Cobra Judy
- PAVE PAWS
- BMEWS
- Shemya island, Alaska
- Specific US radar and locations
- Thule Air Base, Greenland
- Clear Space Force Station, Alaska
- RAF Fylingdales, United Kingdom
- Cape Cod Space Force Station, Massachusetts
- Beale Air Force Base, California
- Cavalier Air Force Station, North Dakota
References
- ^ a b "The Missile Defense Agency - MDA - U.S. Department of Defense" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-07-14. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
- fas.org. Retrieved 2014-10-01.
- ISBN 9781480804562.
- ^ 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.
- LCCN 97020912.
- ^ "Press report on Computer sale to PRC (THIS LINK POINTS TO THE WRONG DOCUMENT)". United States Department of State. 1976-10-30. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
- ^ Steve Brady. "Wing adopts new (again) space surveillance mission". afspc.af.mil. Archived from the original on 2014-12-20. Retrieved 2014-12-16.
- ^ "MDA - Sensors". Mda.mil. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- ^ https://www.mda.mil/global/documents/pdf/cobradane.pdf [bare URL PDF]
External links
- National Security Space Roadmap COBRA DANE Overview
- NASA Orbital Debris Program Office
- Raytheon – Upgrades, etc.
- Space Surveillance Sensors: The Cobra Dane Radar. Article at the Mostlymissiledefence Blog.