AN/FPS-115 Pave Paws:
Taiwan’s AN/FPS-115 Pave Paws radar system played a crucial role in tracking China’s recent ballistic missile launch from the South China Sea.It is an ultrahigh-frequency (UHF; 420–450 MHz) phased-array system for detecting submarine-launched ballistic missiles.It was developed by US defence contractor Raytheon.Besides tracking ballistic missiles, it can monitor aircraft, cruise missiles, and maritime activity.It can detect targets with a radar cross section of 10 square metres at a range of 3,000 nautical miles (approximately 5,600 km).The array antenna contains 1,792 active elements within a diameter of 72.5 feet (22 metres).Each active element is a module with its own solid-state transmitter, receiver, duplexer, and phase shifter.Two antennas make up a system, with each capable of covering a sector 120 degrees in azimuth. Vertical coverage is from 3 to 85 degrees.The unique aspect of this radar system is the phased array antenna technology.This system differs from a mechanical radar, which must be physically aimed at an object in space to track or observe it.The phased array antenna is a fixed position and is part of the exterior building wall.Phased array antenna aiming, or beam steering, is done rapidly by electronically controlling the timing, or phase, of the incoming and outgoing signals.Thus, it continuously scans large areas without mechanical rotation, enabling rapid detection and tracking of multiple targets
