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GW Sailors Work to Enhance Radar Capabilities

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090317-01
Release Date: 3/17/2009 9:10:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brendan Morgan, USS George Washington Media Department

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) Sailors are working to add a new capability to the ship's electronic detection systems.

The new addition -- a pre-production model of the SPS-74 radar (radio detection and ranging) -- will give GW the ability to detect submarine periscopes.

Once installation is complete, GW will be the first ship in the fleet to feature the technology.

The radar, which was under development for the last three years, recently completed initial testing at Atlantic Undersea Testing and Evaluation Center in the Bahamas, said Master Chief Fire Controlman (SW/AW) Thomas Ward, leading chief petty officer of GW's combat systems department.

"Its basic function is to locate submarines that have their periscope up that could pose a threat to the ship," he said.

According to Ward, radar works by transmitting radio waves through the air. When the waves come into contact with an object, they are reflected back and received by the system.

"The difference between this and other radar systems is that [the SPS-74] has an increased scan rate, and it has high sensitivity," he said.

According to a 2008 Defense News article, the AN/SPS-74 RADAR system spawned from the Automatic Radar Periscope Detection and Discrimination (ARPDD) radars.

Ward said the installation will make GW a more mission-ready and capable ship.

"Ultimately, we need the tools in our pocket to be able to take this ship to war, fight that war and get everyone back alive," he said. "That's the function of what we do on board a warship, so any additional tools that will help can only enhance our survival."

"Obviously, USS George Washington is a high-value target to anyone that's hostile to us," Ward added. "It gives us capabilities that ships need."

Planning for the installation began in San Diego. The dome and platform of the system have already been moved on board, and the Sailors of CS-6 division plan to have the system up and running by the time GW heads back to sea.