Why in News?
The AN/FPS-115 Pave Paws radar system is in the news after successfully detecting and tracking a surprise ballistic missile launch by China.
About
- Type: An ultrahigh-frequency (UHF; 420–450 MHz) solid-state active aperture phased-array radar system.
- Developer: Built by the American defence contractor Raytheon (now RTX).
- Acronym Meaning: PAVE stands for Precision Acquisition Vehicle Entry, while PAWS stands for Phased Array Warning System.
- Primary Mission: Designed during the Cold War to detect and track Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) and Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs).
- Secondary Mission: Supports space surveillance networks by tracking Earth satellites and identifying other space objects.
Key Technical Features
- Phased Array Technology: Unlike mechanical radars that must physically move, it steers its radar beam electronically by controlling signal phases, scanning massive areas instantly.
- Massive Range: Can detect targets with a radar cross-section of 10 square metres up to a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km).
- Antenna Structure: Contains 1,792 active elements per face within a 72.5-foot (22-meter) diameter. Each element functions as its own transmitter and receiver.
- Coverage: Built using a two-faced configuration where each face covers a 120-degree sector, providing a combined horizontal coverage of 240 degrees.
- Target Diversity: Beyond ballistic missiles, it can monitor low-flying cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles, aircraft, and maritime activities.
Strategic Context and Taiwan's Role
- The Leshan Asset: Taiwan bought its customized system from the U.S. for $1.4 billion, and it became fully operational in 2013 at the Leshan Radar Station in Hsinchu County.
- Geographical Coverage: Perched at an altitude of 2,600 meters, Taiwan's radar allows it to look deep into mainland China, the South China Sea, and the Korean Peninsula.
- Geopolitical Vulnerability: Because it is the cornerstone of cross-strait early warning detection, experts warn that it would be a top-priority target for destruction by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) during a conflict.
- Recent Vulnerability Precedent: Security concerns regarding the radar grew after a structurally similar U.S.-made early warning radar face in Qatar sustained severe damage during regional drone/missile attacks.
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