Volume Search Radar
The Volume Search Radar is envisioned as a three-dimensional surveillance radar that would search, detect, and track aircraft, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and heli-copters at long ranges and above the horizon. The VSR is based on solid-state, active array radar technology to provide target cueing to the Multi-Function Radar (MFR). The MFR/VSR suite supports new ship design requirement for reduced radar cross-section, reduced manning and total ownership cost reduction. MFR is planned for introduction in CVN-77/CVNX and DD-21 warships.
According to requirements for the DD 21 ship class, the Navy intended to have an integrated radar suite that will comprise both the multi-function radar and VSR. The Navy expects the VSR to perform long-range detection and tracking of airborne traffic above-the-horizon and high flying cruise missile threats as well as to provide cueing data to the multifunction radar. During deliberation of the Navy's fiscal year 2000 budget request, Congress provided the Navy with a $12-million plus-up to begin VSR development. Based on current program plans, the initial VSR prototype will be available during fiscal year 2002 to coincide with MFR development testing.
Both DD 21 Industry Teams developed a VSR capability in the context of the design competition for that ship class. It was the Navy's intent that the MFR/VSR radar suite will be the radar suite for the CVN 77, and will replace the SPS-48E, SPS-49, and SPN-43 (air traffic control) radars currently on CVN-68 class ships. VSR is also a candidate for installation in LHD 8, CVN 70−76 (as a backfit), CVN(X), and LH(X).
Additionally, the Navy reviewed the LPD 17 combat system in 2001 to determine if changes in configuration are warranted. The costs and benefits of including the MFR/VSR suite in the LPD 17 combat system suite will be considered in this review.
Transition roadmap is confirmed as the Technology Innovation Transition in PMO 02 NAVSEA PEO Theater Air Defense and Surface Combatants. The L-band Digital Array Radar (DAR) will be used for Volume Search Radar for DD21. Digital Array Radar uses fully digitized T/R modules in a novel antenna array architecture. Advanced techniques and recent developments, (e.g. direct digital sampling, high rate, high dynamic range A/D converters, high-speed digital computation and digital fiber-optic interfaces) are employed. These technologies, leveraged from the commercial telecommunications, computers, and networking markets, combine to provide several orders of magnitude improvement in Navy radar system performance and promise low risk/cost for near-term acquisitions. One of the main risk areas is the accuracy of digital transceiver of arbitrary waveform, bandwidth at tens G Hz & beyond.
