TheSea-Based X-band radar (SBX-1) is a floating, self-propelled, mobileactive electronically scanned arrayearly-warning radar station designed to operate in high winds and heavy seas. It was developed as part of the United States Department of DefenseMissile Defense Agency's (MDA) Ballistic Missile Defense System.
The radar is mounted on a fifth-generation CS-50 twin-hulledsemi-submersibleoil platform. Conversion of the vessel was carried out at theAmFELS yard inBrownsville, Texas; the radar mount was built and mounted on the vessel at theKiewit yard inIngleside, Texas. It is nominally based atAdak Island inAlaska but has spent significant time at Pearl Harbor in test status.
SBX-1 is part of theGround-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system under development by theMissile Defense Agency (MDA). The decision to place the system on a mobile sea-based platform was intended to allow the vessel to be moved to areas needed for enhanced missile defense. Fixed radars provide coverage for a minimal area due to the curvature of theEarth. Even though the same limitation applies to the SBX, its moving ability mitigates it. SBX's primary task is to discriminate enemy warheads from decoys, followed by precision tracking the identified warheads. Testing has raised doubts about the system's ability to perform these tasks, deal with multiple targets, and report accurately to command authorities.[2]
The vessel has many smallradomes for various communications tasks and a large central dome that encloses aphased-array, 1,800 tonne (4,000,000 pound)X-band radar antenna. The small radomes are rigid, but the central dome is not - the flexible cover is supported by positive air pressure amounting to a few inches of water. The amount of air pressure is variable depending on weather conditions.
The radar antenna is 384 m2 (4,130 sq ft). It has 45,000[3] solid-state transmit-receive modules mounted on an octagonal flat base, which can move ±270 degrees in azimuth and 0 to 85 degrees elevation (although software currently limits the maximum physical elevation to 80 degrees). The maximum azimuth and elevation velocities are approximately 5–8 degrees per second. In addition to the physical motion of the base, the beam can be electronically steered offbore-sight (details classified).
There are currently 22,000 modules installed on the base. Each module has one transmit-receivefeed horn, and one auxiliary receive feed horn for a second polarization, totaling 44,000 feed horns. The base is roughly 2/3 populated, with space for the installation of additional modules. The current modules are concentrated toward the center to minimize grating lobes. This configuration allows it to support the very-long-range target discrimination and tracking that GMD's midcourse segment requires. The radar never points at land for the safety of the inhabitants.[3]
In addition to the power consumed by the radar, the thrusters that propel the vessel are electric and require substantial power. The maximum speed is approximately 8 knots (9.2 mph; 15 km/h). The vessel has six 3.6-megawatt generators (12-cylinder Caterpillar diesel) to support this and all other electrical equipment. The generators are in two compartments, one port and one starboard.
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The radar is derived from the radar used in theTHAAD theater ballistic missile defense system. It is a part of the layeredballistic missile defense system (BMDS) program of theUnited StatesMissile Defense Agency (MDA). One important difference from Aegis is using the X band in the SBX. Aegis usesS band, andPatriot uses the higher-frequencyC band. The X band frequency is higher still, so its shorter wavelength enables finer resolution of tracked objects.
The radar was described byLt. GenTrey Obering (former director of MDA) as being able to track an object the size of abaseball overSan Francisco in California fromChesapeake Bay in Virginia, approximately 2,900 miles (4,700 km) away.[4][5] The radar will guide land-based missiles from Alaska andCalifornia, as well as in-theater assets, depending on the mission.
The vessel isclassed byABS and has theIMO number of 8765412.
The first such vessel is scheduled to be based inAdak Island,Alaska, part of theAleutian Islands. From that location, it will be able to track missiles launched toward the US from bothNorth Korea andChina. Although her homeport is in Alaska, she will be tasked with moving throughout thePacific Ocean to support her mission. Thehull code number given to the SBX vessel, "SBX-1", indicates the possibility of further units of the class. When a vessel must be continually on duty over a long period, common naval practice is to have at least three units of the type available to allow for replenishment, repair, and overhaul. Three further CS-50/Moss Sirius design vessels were under construction or contract at theSeverodvinsk Shipyard in Russia as of early 2007 but were configured for oil production. On 11 May 2011, Col. Mark Arn, the SBX project manager for MDA, said that the "SBX is the only one of its kind and there are no current plans for another one".[6] In July 2011, a Missile Defense Agency spokesman explained that other, smaller radars in the Pacific will "pick up the slack" while SBX is in port with its radar turned off.[7]
The SBX was deployed in 2006. The ship has spent time for maintenance and repair at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, several times, including 170 days in 2006, 63 days in 2007, 63 days in 2008, 177 days in 2009, and 51 days in 2010. When not in Hawaii, the SBX has been on operational deployments in the Pacific, including the waters off Alaska. The ship has not moored in Alaska, despite the construction of an eight-point, $26 million mooring chain system installed in 2007 inAdak'sKuluk Bay. On 23 June 2009, the SBX was moved to offshore Hawaii in response to a potential North Korean missile launch. Between 2009 and 2010, the vessel spent 396 continuous days at sea.[3][8]
The SBX failed during a flight test on 31 January 2010, designated FTG-06. The test was a simulation of a North Korean or Iranian missile launch.[9] The test failure arose from two factors, the first being that algorithms in the SBX radar software (designed to filter out extraneous information from the target scene) were left disengaged for the test, and the second was a mechanical failure in a thruster on the kill vehicle.[10]
During flight test FTG-06a on 15 December 2010, the SBX performed as expected, but the target missile was again not intercepted.
In May 2011, the SBX-1 enteredVigor Shipyard (formerly the Todd Pacific Shipyard) in Seattle for a $27 million upgrade and maintenance work by contractor Boeing.[11] The work was completed in about three months and in August 2011, SBX-1 departed Seattle for deployment.[12]
In December 2011, MDA transferred responsibility for the SBX vessel management and physical security to theU.S. Navy'sMilitary Sealift Command.[13] MDA retains responsibility for communications, the X-band Radar, and for mission integration.
In February 2012, the Missile Defense Agency requested only $9.7 million per year for Fiscal Years 2013 through 2017, down from $176.8 million in fiscal 2012. This reduced amount would be used to maintain SBX in a "limited test support" role "while also retaining the ability to recall it to an active, operational status if and when it is needed."[2][14]
In April 2012, it was reported that SBX-1 had leftPearl Harbor and was assumed to be being deployed to monitor North Korea's plannedUnha-3 missile in the launch window of 12–16 April 2012.[15] The vessel returned to Pearl Harbor on 21 May 2012.[16] It redeployed to monitor the next North Korean launch attempt at the end of 2012.[17]
In April 2013, it was reported that SBX-1 was being deployed to monitor North Korea.[18] It has never been deployed to Adak.[2]
In November 2015, it was moved to Pearl Harbor for repairs and testing. It departed Pearl Harbor in November 2017 for North Pacific Ocean waters to monitor North Korea's ballistic missile operations.
In January 2017, the SBX-1 was deployed into the Pacific during North Korean threats of ICBM and nuclear attacks on other nations. The radar was able to perform its mission of tracking a target operating at ICBM speeds during the interception of a mock ICBM by a GMD interceptor on 30 May 2017.[19][20][21]
In May 2019, the SBX-1 docked on the north side of Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, where it underwent maintenance. It departed Pearl Harbor on 26 September 2019.[22]
A fictionalized version of SBX-1, armed with "Interceptor"anti-ballistic missiles, is used as the setting for the 2022 action drama filmInterceptor.[23][24]
The SBX-1 has become known to locals ofOahu as the "Golf Ball" or the "Pearl of Pearl Harbor" due to its color and shape.[16]
The Missile Defense Agency's Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX) will depart August 20th from Seattle, Washington where it has been undergoing scheduled maintenance and planned upgrades at Vigor Shipyards since May. The work has taken about three months to complete...
