Mark 92 Guided Missile Fire Control System Explained

The Mark 92 Fire Control System is a US-built medium-range anti-aircraft missile and gun fire control system. It was developed for the FFG-7 Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigates. The system is a licensed USN version of the Thales Nederland WM-25 fire control system. The Mark 92 fire control system was approved for service use in 1975. Introduction to the fleet and follow-on test and evaluation began in 1978.[1]

Radar Systems

The Mark 92 system assigns targets via the ship's air search radar, and surface search radar or from the Mark 92's own search radar capabilities.[1] The system has two or three radar sub-systems depending on the model. The first two are combined into a single system called the Combined Antenna System or CAS is used in all models. The CAS has a track while scan radar (Search) and a tracking radar both housed in an egg shaped radome. The radars can search for, track, and illuminate targets. There is also a third radar for target illumination referred to as the Separate Target Illumination Radar or STIR. The STIR is a radar developed from the AN/SPG-60 radar that is part of the Mark 86 gun fire control system.

Versions

Gun and missile control:

1 air engagement channel

2 surface-search, TWS channels

Gun only:

1 air engagement channel

2 surface-search, TWS channels

Gun and missile control:

2 air engagement channels, including STIR with Mark 107 console

2 surface-search, TWS channels

Gun only:

1 air engagement channel

2 surface-search, TWS channels

2 air engagement channels, including STIR with Mark 107 console and (coherent receiver/transmitter CORT) transceiver

2 surface-search, TWS channels

ModificationSurface Engagement ChannelsAir Engagement Channels (gun)Air Engagement Channels (missile)
0211
1210
2212
5210
6212
[2]

STIR (Separate Target Illumination Radar) Deactivated

The USN retired the RIM-66E, or Standard missile-1, from active service in 2003. Oliver Hazard Perry frigates in USN service have had the STIR radar removed. The STIR radars are still in use on non-USN vessels.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MK 92 Fire Control System (FCS). GlobalSecurity.org. 2008-12-12.
  2. Web site: MK 92 Fire Control System Manufacturer Doc. . GlobalSecurity.org. 2009-02-26.