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Just a word on AEW in the mid 50s; the likes of the EC121, Skyraider and Gannet AEW equipped with the APS-20 were limited to searching beneath them, for low level targets. The APS-20 had a detection range of ~85nm against bomber sized targets, and the height finder on the top of the EC121 had a range of ~60nm, As a result these aircraft generally flew at 3,000' to put that detection range on the horizon, although apparently crew learned if they flew at 50-300' they could bounce their later belly mounted APS-95 radar off the sea and detected medium altitude aircraft at 150 statute miles. None of this is useful against the high altitude, transonic threat that the study posits.

I don't know but suspect that the roof mounted APS-82 on the 1958 E1 could search for high altitude targets, but I recall that the detection range was ~110nm so it would need to be a long way from the carrier and in the right spot to be useful in this scenario.

The E2 solves this problem by 1965 I imagine, in theory of course as it did not work as advertised for years after it's introduction.

<blockquote data-quote="Rule of cool" data-source="post: 651455" data-attributes="member: 48502">Just a word on AEW in the mid 50s; the likes of the EC121, Skyraider and Gannet AEW equipped with the APS-20 were limited to searching beneath them, for low level targets. The APS-20 had a detection range of ~85nm against bomber sized targets, and the height finder on the top of the EC121 had a range of ~60nm, As a result these aircraft generally flew at 3,000' to put that detection range on the horizon, although apparently crew learned if they flew at 50-300' they could bounce their later belly mounted APS-95 radar off the sea and detected medium altitude aircraft at 150 statute miles. None of this is useful against the high altitude, transonic threat that the study posits.I don't know but suspect that the roof mounted APS-82 on the 1958 E1 could search for high altitude targets, but I recall that the detection range was ~110nm so it would need to be a long way from the carrier and in the right spot to be useful in this scenario.The E2 solves this problem by 1965 I imagine, in theory of course as it did not work as advertised for years after it's introduction.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Rule of cool, post: 651455, member: 48502"] Just a word on AEW in the mid 50s; the likes of the EC121, Skyraider and Gannet AEW equipped with the APS-20 were limited to searching beneath them, for low level targets. The APS-20 had a detection range of ~85nm against bomber sized targets, and the height finder on the top of the EC121 had a range of ~60nm, As a result these aircraft generally flew at 3,000' to put that detection range on the horizon, although apparently crew learned if they flew at 50-300' they could bounce their later belly mounted APS-95 radar off the sea and detected medium altitude aircraft at 150 statute miles. None of this is useful against the high altitude, transonic threat that the study posits. I don't know but suspect that the roof mounted APS-82 on the 1958 E1 could search for high altitude targets, but I recall that the detection range was ~110nm so it would need to be a long way from the carrier and in the right spot to be useful in this scenario. The E2 solves this problem by 1965 I imagine, in theory of course as it did not work as advertised for years after it's introduction. [/QUOTE]

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