AN / TPS-43
The AN / TPS-43 is a portable 3D radar device that served as the only long-range tactical radar system for the US Air Force for two decades. It consisted of two components that could be loaded (e.g. on a truck): the radar antenna, which could be completely folded in for transport purposes, and a shelter in which the transmission, reception and evaluation technology were housed. The antenna was connected to the transmitter output stage in the shelter via a flexible waveguide. The waveguides were filled with sulfur hexafluoride in order to improve their dielectric strength and to reduce the transmission loss.
The antenna gain is 37 dB. The antenna characteristic is in the form of a stacked beam Cosecans² diagram . The transmission pulse is emitted in the form of a Cosecans² diagram, reception takes place via 6 reception channels (so-called lobes or beams) which are staggered in elevation and which in their total again cover the Cosecans² diagram. As a result, in addition to the side angle and distance, the elevation ( flight height ) of a flight object can also be determined. Another, 7th receiving channel is used for side lobe suppression (SLB).
A pulsed Twystron (a hybrid output stage tube , which combines a traveling wave tube (TWT) and a klystron ) generates a maximum output power of 2.8 MW in the S-band . The transmission pulse is phase-coded and therefore achieves a very precise distance resolution with the pulse compression method .
The American armed forces modified many AN / TPS-43s to AN / TPS-70s by replacing the Cosecans² antenna with a phased array antenna , but this modification was not carried out on the devices of the German Armed Forces. Nevertheless, the AN / TPS-43 continues to enjoy great popularity. As a result of the events of September 11, 2001 , the Argentine armed forces set up an AN / TPS-43E in Posadas (Misiones) to detect illegal flight movements.
| Technical data AN / TPS-43 | |
|---|---|
| Frequency range | 2900-3100 MHz |
| Pulse repetition time | 4 ms |
| Pulse repetition frequency | 250 Hz |
| Transmission time (PW) | 6.5 µs |
| Reception time | |
| Dead time | |
| Pulse power | 2.8 MW |
| Average performance | 6.7 kW |
| displayed distance | 450 km |
| Distance resolution | 80 m |
| Opening angle | 1.1 ° |
| Hit count | |
| Antenna round trip time | 10 s (6 / min) |
