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APS-4 Radar
TX/RX pod with front and rear radome covers removed
APS-4 radar mounted
under the fuselage of an RAF Fairy Firefly
Photo: Ronald Asplin, RAF Retired
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Airborne Search Radar
RT-5A/APS-4 (USA 1943)
The APS-4 was a light-weight,
pod-mounted airborne search Radar which was suitable for
either
Airborne Interception (AI) or Air-to-Surface-Vessel (ASV)
applications. It was a member of a series of early air-borne
radar equipments and was initially designated as AS-H.
This very advanced equipment for its time was first used by the USA
Navy carrier-borne aircraft (F6F
Hellcat and F4U-2 Corsair),
and later by RAF Mosquitos. In RAF service it was known as AI
Mk XV. Post WW2 it
was fitted to the RAF Fairy Firefly and also used by the Swedish
Airforce.
The equipment is carried under the wing or the fuselage of the aircraft
and is dimensioned to be equivalent to a 500lb bomb.
The Radar dish is designed to scan from side to side for AI
applications and can also be commanded to look up and down by a few
degrees. This enables it to search for surface vessels below
(ASV) and also
aircraft attacking from above.
The frequency used was approximately 9000 MHz, the pulse duration 0.6uS
and the pulse repetition frequency adjustable to either 600 or 1000
cpS. The peak RF output power was 40 to 70 kW according to the
version in use.
The transmitter section is at the front behind the dish and the
receiver section is at the rear of the unit.
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