ARSR-3

ARSR-3 Long-Range Search Radar Set - A long-range ground search radar set built by Westinghouse for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). First deployed in July 1978. ARSR-3 Search Radar The ARSR-3 was an long-range L-band (1215- 1400 MHz) air-route-surveillance radar built by Raytheon for the FAA. Twenty six ARSR-3s were deployed by the FAA between 1978 and FY1980. The first installation took place at the FAA Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City in July 1978 and they delivered the last one in FY1980. ARSR-3 Search Radar Contracts Date Contract Sets Amount Notes February 1973 Prototype 1 $3.5 million Final cost $7.9 milllion July 1975 Production 16 $30.2 million December 1975 Production 10 $11.2 million The ARSR-3 was used as a surveillance system to detect azimuth and range of en-route aircraft operating between FAA terminal areas. The ARSR-3 was dual channeled with the ability to run both channels at the same time in a diplex mode. Each channel used a klystron that providing 5MW peak power with 3.3kW average power. When dipexed the two channels were shifted in frequency and could be staggered about a set of prfs. When optimized, the diplex mode could result in a detection range of 240 nm. ARSR-3 Upgrades In FY85 a contract to upgrade 64 FAA tube type en route radar sets was awarded to United Technologies/Norden Systems as the first of the modifications to improve maintainability and reduce costs. By 1990 the FAA indicated that the ARSR-3 included the common digitizer functionality and did not require a separate CD-2 Common Digitizer. A separate modification was required to implement three level weather reporting on the ARSR-3. By 2015 all of the operating ARSR-3s had been further transformed into Common Air-Route-Surveillance (CARSR) radars with 9200S Antennas and additional solid state components that would extend the supportable life of the set into 2025. ARSR-3 Search Radar Element Value Notes Nomenclature ARSR-3 Origins Variants ARSR-3A thru D ASR-30 D configuration reportedly had height-finder capability Manufacturer Westinghouse Type Search Number Made 36 Total 26 FAA 7 Canada 2 Switzerland IEEE Band L Frequency 1250-1350MHz PRF 310-365 Hz Pulse Width 2 us Rotation Speed 5 rpm Antenna 9200S Power 5 MW 3.5 KW Peak Average Range 240 nmi long range Altitude 100,000 Introduced 1978 Cost per set $1.6 million approx See Also: CARSR US Radar Sets Sources: Winkler, David F., Searching the Skies: the Legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program, USAF Hq Air Combat Command, 1997, 192 pages, Pdf, page 88. Forcast International - ARSR-3 LRR - Archived 8/96 FAA - Recommendation on Transition from Primary/Secondary Radar to Secondary-Only Radar Capability. Three Level Weather For ARTCC Displays Project Implementation Plan, FAA Order 7110.14A, 14 Feb 1990. Links: Radomes - Radar Equipment GAO - FAA Long Range Radar ARSR-3 Attachment 4: Typical Legacy Site Infrastructure NTIA Report 82-92 - Output Tube Emission Characteristics of Operational Radars