The Sea-Based X-Band Radar being transported by ship
The Sea-Based X-Band Radar being transported by ship
![](https://sh.itjust.works/pictrs/image/2ebb8949-a63b-4934-800c-e1dac2f7fd26.jpeg?thumbnail=1024&format=webp)
The radar can detect airborne ICBM warheads up to 2500 miles away.
The radar can detect airborne ICBM warheads up to 2500 miles away.
For reference, that's about 1/10th the circumference of the Earth.
In SI units that's about 4'000 kilometers. The Earth circumference is almost exactly 40'000 kilometers (by historical definition).
17 0 ReplyGuessing you don't want to be standing right next to the dome when it pings, then... 😳
8 0 Reply"One ping only, Vasily."
8 0 Reply
What’s “x-band” mean
Edit: ah.
In radar engineering, the frequency range is specified by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) as 8.0–12.0 GHz. The X band is used for radar, satellite communication, and wireless computer networks.
Slightly less for comms eng.
9 0 ReplyWiFi will probably creep in at the lower end of that soon. We're only 2Ghz away!
3 0 ReplyWiGig was 60Ghz, I would bet we would take a second stab at that before picking a new range.
2 0 Reply
Where’s it going ?
8 0 ReplyThis is an old photograph from 2006, taken as the ship arrives at Pearl Harbour. The Radar was being moved from Corpus Christi, Texas.
8 0 Reply
Wait, is THAT what those do? I used to see a bunch of them in the hills around a major airforce base. Jokingly called them the “Epcot” spheres.
6 0 ReplyYeah, they have a load of these radars at a military base near where I live in the UK. They’re called Radomes, but are commonly referred to as “The Golf Balls” around here lol
4 0 Reply
How do they unload that? Do they kind of just tilt it into the water, or is there a giant crane freighter ship waiting at its destination?
5 0 ReplyBlue Marlin is a semi-submersible ship, which means that it can lower itself partly underwater to allow its cargo to move on/off. The ship is designed primarily to move oil rigs around, with this being a special case. The radar itself is actually a converted oil rig.
Blue Marlin preparing to offload an oil rig:
19 0 ReplyOh sick, thanks!
2 0 Reply
They are really pulling out all the stops for the new "Raft" sequel.
5 0 Reply