The SteelNavy.Com Message Board: Re: SPQ-9B and SPS-73 (NGSSR)

I will add this to the subject:

https://www.reddit.com/r/WarshipPorn/comments/19aknfy/uss_mustin_ddg_89_is_sporting_some_new_gear_after/?solution=fda5989b3c88dac2fda5989b3c88dac2&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9eca9245ae96c8ea756a3eba41639a86d55&jsc_orig_r=

Mustin with both SPQ-9B and NGSSR. Text below image indicates SPQ-9B might be going away. This may be some sort of direct comparison of the two systems head-to-head.

While I can't find anything that says NGSSR outright replaces SPQ-9B, I strongly suspect "you're on to something." I think the NGSSR is probably a leading candidate. SPQ-9B is billed as a fire control radar, and is tied into the AEGIS system. NGSSR is billed as a navigation radar (which is why it already is claimed to replace the older navigation radars outright.) There's a lot of overlap in their abilities, and the Navy is officially looking for an SPQ-9B replacement. They may be "on the verge" of having found it. Time should shortly tell.

Previous Message

Gone as in not there. I never checked to see if it had been installed previously, but assumed that if it was still relevant, it would have been installed this time. After a quick check, you are correct, these ships never got SPQ-9B. I also notice that 3 of the 4 ships are the abandoned mine variants. I guess they needed to be upgraded to become more useful.

According to this article, NGSSR

The new AN/SPS-73(V)18 NGSSR software-defined radar is replacing all variants of the Navy's current AN/SPS-67, AN/SPS-73, BridgeMaster E series, and commercial-of-the-shelf radar systems.

And according to this video by the manufacturer,

This radar does the job as the SPQ-9B

The SPQ-9 is a surface search and fire control radar.

This article talks about the Navy looking to replace the SPQ-9B spq-9b

The radar 2 levels above appears to be the SPS-67. Maybe left on as a backup until the new 73 is certified?

Previous Message

What do you mean with "SPQ-9B is gone"?

I thought that these ships never had an SPQ-9B.

The AN/SPS-73(V)18 replaces earlier versions of the SPS-73 (and SPS-67) as navigation and surface search radar.

Both are X-band radars. However, I thought the SPQ-9B's focus was on detecting airborne threats.