MK 86 GUN FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM

Anti-Air missiles (fig. 2-7). The radar system associated with the Mk 99 MFCS is the missile illuminator AN/SPG-62. AN/SPG-62 RADAR.—The AN/SPG-62 is I/J- Band fire control radar. The SPY-1 radar system detects and tracks targets and then points the SPG-62 toward the target, which in turn provides illumination for the terminal guidance of SM-2 missiles. Refer to chapter 1 for discussion on the different phases of missile guidance and the way radar is used for missile guidance. Remember that in order to track a target you need a very narrow beam of RF energy. The narrower the beam, the more accurately you can tell if you have one target or multiple targets (this is called radar resolution). This narrow beam radar is normally a second radar that works with a primary search or track radar. The AN/SPG-62 illuminating radar works as a second radar with the AN/SPY-1 series radar. See figure 2-6 for the location of AN/SPG-62 on an AEGIS cruiser. In addition to the Mk 99 MFCS, the AEGIS SPY-1 series radar works with the Gun Fire Control System Mk 86. The Mk 86 GFCS controls the fire of the Mk 45 5-inch gun. MK 86 GUN FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM The Mk 86 Gun Fire Control System (GFCS) provides ships of destroyer size and larger with an economical, versatile, lightweight, gun and missile fire control system that is effective against surface and air targets. The Mk 86 Gun Fire Control System (GFCS) is the central sub-element of the Mk 34 Gun Weapons System (GWS) on AEGIS class ships. It controls the ship’s forward and aft 5"/54 caliber Mk 45 gun mounts ( fi g . 2 - 8 ) a n d c a n e n ga g e u p t o t wo t a rg e t s simultaneously. The SPQ-9 series and Mk 23 TAS (Target Acquisition System) work together to provide control for Naval Gun Fire Support (NGFS), Submarine Warfare (SUW) and Anti-Air Warfare (AW) gun engagements. The Mk 86 GFCS also uses a Remote Optical Sighting system. This is a separate TV camera with a telephoto zoom lens mounted on the mast and each of the illuminating radars. The optical sighting system is known as ROS on the SPRUANCE class destroyers and is mounted on the SPG-60 illumination radar. The Mk 34 GWS on AEGIS class destroyers and cruisers uses the Mk 46 Mod 0 Optical Sight System on the SPG-62 illuminators. The Mk 86 GFCS is the controlling element, where loading and firing orders originate. After an operator selects the GFCS mode, the system calculates ballistic gun orders. These orders can be modified to correct for environmental effects on ballistics. The GFCS conducts direct firing attacks against surface radar and optically tracked targets, as well as indirect firing during Naval Gun Fire Support (NGFS). 2-6 Figure 2-6.—Radar and weapon systems on an AEGIS class cruiser. Figure 2-7.—SM-2 ER Anti-Air missile on launcher.