MIM-23 Hawk - Radars

Radars

The original Hawk system used 4 radars: to detect (PAR and CWAR), to track (CWAR and HPIR) and to engage (HPIR and ROR) targets. As the system was upgraded the functionality of some of the radars was merged. The final iteration of the system consists of only 2 radars, an enhanced phased array search radar and an engagement radar (HPIR).

PAR Pulse Acquisition Radar
The pulse acquisition radar is a long range, high altitude search radar.

• AN/MPQ-35 (Basic Hawk)

The search radar used with the basic Hawk system, with a radar pulse power of 450 kW and a pulse length of 3 µs, a Pulse Repetition Frequency of 800 and 667 Hz alternately. The radar operates in the 1.25 to 1.35 GHz range. The antenna is a 6.7 m × 1.4 m (22 ft × 4.6 ft) elliptical reflector of open lattice construction, mounted on a small two-wheeled trailer. Rotation rate is 20 rpm, the BCC - Battery Control Central and the CWAR are synchronized by the PAR revolutions and the PAR system trigger.

• AN/MPQ-50 (Improved Hawk to Phase III)

Introduced with the I-Hawk system, the improved-PAR. The system introduces a digital MTI (Moving Target Indicator) that helps separate targets from ground clutter. It operates in the 500 to 1,000 MHz (C-band) frequency range with a peak operating power of 1,000 watts.

• Range (source Janes):
  • 104 km (65 mi) (high PRF) to 96 km (60 mi) (low PRF) versus 3 m2 (32 sq ft) target.
  • 98 km (61 mi)(high PRF) to 90 km (56 mi) (low PRF) versus 2.4 m2 (26 sq ft) target.
  • 79 km (49 mi) (high PRF) to 72 km (45 mi) (low PRF) versus 1 m2 (11 sq ft) target.

• AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel (Hawk XXI)

A X-Band 3D range-gated doppler radar system used with the Hawk XXI system. It replaces both the CWAR and PAR components of the Hawk system. MPQ-64 Sentinel provides coverage out to a range of 75 km (47 mi), rotating at 30 rpm. The system has a mean time between failure of around 600 hours, and can track at least 60 targets at once. It can elevate up to +55 degrees and depress to -10 degrees.

CWAR Continuous Wave Acquisition Radar
This X Band Continuous wave system is used to detect targets. The unit comes mounted on its own mobile trailer. The unit acquires targets through 360 degrees of azimuth while providing target radial speed and raw range data.

• AN/MPQ-34 (Basic Hawk)

MPQ-34 Hawk CW Acquisition radar with a power rating of 200 W and a frequency of 10 GHz (X-Band) Built by Raytheon. Replaced by MPQ-48.

• AN/MPQ-48 (Improved Hawk)

The Improved Hawk version of the CW acquisition radar doubled the output power and improved the detection ranges:

• Range (source Janes):
  • 69 km (43 mi) (CW) to 63 km (39 mi) (FM) versus 3 m2 (32 sq ft) target.
  • 65 km (40 mi) (CW) to 60 km (37 mi) (FM) versus 2.4 m2 (26 sq ft) target.
  • 52 km (32 mi) (CW) to 48 km (30 mi) (FM) versus 1 m2 (11 sq ft) target.
• AN/MPQ-55 (Phase I - Phase II)

Hawk Improved Continuous Wave Acquisition Radar or ICWAR. The output power is doubled to 400 W, this increases the detection range to around 70 km (43 mi). The radar operates in the 10–20 GHz (J-band). Other features include FM ranging and BITE (Built in test equipment). Frequency modulation is applied to the broadcast on alternate scans of the ICWAR to obtain range information.

• AN/MPQ-62 (Phase III)

Some changes to the signal processing allow the radar to determine the targets' range and speed in a single scan. A digital DSP system is added which allows a lot of the processing work to be done on the radar directly and forwarded directly via a serial digital link to the PCP/BCP.

HPIR High Power Illuminating Radar
The early AN/MPQ-46 High Power Illuminator (HPIR) radars had only the two large dish-type antennas side by side, one to transmit and one to receive. The HPIR automatically acquires and tracks designated targets in azimuth, elevation and range. It also serves as an interface unit supplying azimuth and elevation launch angles computed by the Automatic Data Processor (ADP) in the Information Coordination Centre (ICC) to the IBCC or the Improved Platoon Command Post (IPCP) for up to three launchers. The HPIR J-band energy reflected from the target is also received by the Hawk missile. These returns are compared with the missile reference signal being transmitted directly to the missile by the HPIR. Target tracking is continued throughout the missile's flight. After the missile intercepts the target the HPIR Doppler data is used for kill evaluation. The HPIR receives target designations from one or both surveillance radars via the Battery Control Centre (BCC) and automatically searches a given sector for a rapid target lock on. The HPIR incorporates ECCM and BITE.

• AN/MPQ-33/39 (Basic Hawk)

This X Band CW System is used to illuminate targets in the Hawk Missile Battery. The unit comes mounted on its own mobile trailer. Unit automatically acquires and tracks designated targets in azimuth elevation and range rate. The system has an output power of around 125 W operating in the 10-10.25 GHz band. MPQ-39 was an upgraded version of the MPQ-33.

• AN/MPQ-46 (Improved Hawk - Phase I)

The radar operates in the 10–20 GHz (J-band) region. Many of the electron tube components in earlier radars are replaced with solid-state technology.

• Range (source Janes):
  • 99 km (62 mi) (high PRF) to 93 km (58 mi) (low PRF) versus 3 m2 (32 sq ft) target.
  • 93 km (58 mi) (high PRF) to 89 km (55 mi) (low PRF) versus 2.4 m2 (26 sq ft) target.
  • 75 km (47 mi) (high PRF) to 72 km (45 mi) (low PRF) versus 1 m2 (11 sq ft) target.
• AN/MPQ-57 (Phase II)

The majority of the remaining tube electronics are upgraded to solid state. Also, an electro-optical tracking system, the daytime only OD-179/TVY TAS (Tracking Adjunct System) is added for operation in a high ECM environement. The TAS was developed from the US Air Forces TISEO (Target Identification System, Electro-Optical) by Northrop. It consists of a video camera with a x10 zoom lens. The I-TAS which was field tested in 1992 added an Infra Red capability for night operation as well as automatic target detection and tracking.

• HEOS Germany, Netherlands and Norway modified their Hawk systems with an alternative IR acquisition and tracking system known as the Hawk Electro-Optical Sensor (HEOS) in place of the TAS. HEOS operates in the 8 to 11 µm band and is used to supplement the HPI to acquire and track targets before missile launch.

• AN/MPQ-61 (Phase III)

Upgraded with the addition of the LASHE (Low-Altitude Simutaneous Hawk Engagement) system, which allows the Hawk to engage multiple low level targets by employing a fan beam antenna to provide a wide-angle, low-altitude illumination pattern to allow multiple engagements against saturation raids. This antenna is rectangular. This allows up to 12 targets to be engaged at once. There is also TV/IR optic system for passive missile guidance.

ROR Range Only Radar
Pulse radar that automatically comes into operation if the HPIR radar cannot determine the range, typically because of jamming. The ROR is difficult to jam because it operates only briefly during the engagement, and only in the presence of jamming.

• AN/MPQ-37 (Basic Hawk)

• AN/MPQ-51 (Improved Hawk - Phase II)

A Ku Band (Freq: 15.5-17.5 GHz) pulse radar, the power output was 120 kW. Pulse length 0.6 µs at a pulse repetition frequency of 1600 Hz. Antenna: 4-foot (1.2 m) dish.

• Range
  • 83 km (52 mi) versus 3 m2 (32 sq ft) target.
  • 78 km (48 mi) versus 2.4 m2 (26 sq ft) target.
  • 63 km (39 mi) versus 1 m2 (11 sq ft) target.

FDC (Hawk Phase III and Hawk XXI) - Fire Distribution Center. C4I unit, enabling modern command, control, communications and Force Operation. Color displays with 3D map overlays enhance the situation awareness. Instriduces the real-time exchange of air picture and commands between the Hawk units. Make-ready capability for SL-AMRAAM and SHORAD/vSHORAD systems.