title: AN/SPS-8
text: # AN/SPS-8
  
  AN/SPS-8 is a two-dimensional radar manufactured by General Electric. It was used by the US Navy as a height finding radar after World War II, and was equipped aboard naval ships during the Cold War. Variants include AN/SPS-8A, AN-SPS/8B, AN/SPS-8C and AN/SPS-8D After modernization, it was redesignated as AN/SPS-30.
  
  ## AN/SPS-8
  
  It worked in two modes in terms of range - with a pulse frequency of 1000 Hz (pulse duration 1 μs, range 154 km) and 500 Hz (2 μs, 308 km). In a real situation, the F2H aircraft was detected at a distance of 111 km (SPS-8A / B modifications - 133 km).
  
  The target elevation angle was determined by scanning the beam in the vertical plane with a frequency of 5, 10 or 20 Hz (in the SPS-8B modification -6, 12 and 16.5 Hz). The accuracy of determining the height was 150 m. The deflection of the beam in elevation was carried out by a Robinson Scanner feed in modifications SPS-8 and SPS-8A and an organ-type feed in modification SPS-8B
  
  In the SPS-8A modification, the capacity was increased from 650 kW to 1 MW with a design capacity of 2 MW. In the 2-μs pulse mode, pulse repetition rates of 450 and 750 Hz were provided.
  
  The SPS-8 and SPS-8A used the same mesh antennas. SPS-8B, first tested in January–June 1956 and put into service in 1959, had a high gain antenna (41 instead of 37.4 dB), a narrower beam (1.2 ° × 1.5 °) wider scanning sector in elevation (12 °) at a vertical scanning frequency of 6, 12 and 16.5 Hz.
  
  The information was displayed on the VK circular view indicator (Model VK Plan Position Indicator) and the VL range-height indicator (Model VL Range-Height Indicator).
  
  ### On board ships
  
  **United States**
  
  * Essex-class aircraft carrier
  * AN/SPS-8A aboard USS Canberra Midway-class aircraft carrier
  * Forrestal-class aircraft carrier
  * Independence-class aircraft carrier
  * Iowa-class battleship
  * Baltimore-class cruiser
  * Worcester-class cruiser
  * Boston-class cruiser
  * Providence-class cruiser
  * Galveston-class cruiser
  * Mitscher-class destroyer
  * Gearing-class destroyer
  * Guardian-class radar picket ship
  
  **Canada**
  
  * HMCS Bonaventure
  
  ## AN/SPS-30
  
  Based on the SPS-8B, the best American sweeping beam radar, the SPS-30, was created, which used a high gain antenna and a 2.5 MW klystron. Work on its creation began in 1956. It is a three-dimensional radar.
  
  It was planned to upgrade the SPS-8 and SPS-8A to SPS-8C / D with the installation of the same antennas and klystrons as on the SPS-30, but these plans were not implemented, although at the end of 1957, 30 new antennas were produced.
  
  A modification of the SPS-8 was the CXRX radar,
  
  ### On board ships
  
  **United States**
  
  * Essex-class aircraft carrier
  * Boston-class cruiser
  * USS Atlanta
  * Galveston-class cruiser
  * Gearing-class destroyer
  
  **Canada**
  
  * HMCS Bonaventure
  
  ## See More
  
  * List of radars
  * Radar configurations and types
  * Height finding radar
  
  ## Citations
  
  * ↑ "AN/SPS-8 - Radartutorial". www.radartutorial.eu. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  * ↑ "US Navy Radar Picket Ships". www.radomes.org. Archived from the original on 2002-08-04. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  