Advanced Enclosed Mast / Sensor

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USS Arthur W. Radford with the AEM / S
USS Mesa Verde (San Antonio class) with two AEM / S

The Advanced Enclosed Mast / Sensor (AEM / S) is a United States Navy program that aims to reduce the radar cross-section of warships.

Such an Advanced Enclosed Mast / Sensor is a structure around 28 meters high and up to 10.6 meters thick in which radar devices are housed. It is octagonal and is made of composite materials that transmit radar beams on the frequencies used. Dispensing with conventional post or especially lattice masts reduces the radar cross-section, and the systems are also protected from wind and salt water, which reduces the maintenance required.

The program has been running since 1995. In 1997, a prototype of the system was installed in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard on the Spruance destroyer USS Arthur W. Radford (DD-968) . The first regular use of the AEM / S takes place on the ships of the San Antonio class that have two such masts.

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