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Bendix AN/FPS-3 Radar
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| Country of origin | United States |
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| Type | Long Range Search Radar |
| Other Names | AN/MPS-7 (Mobile Version) |
The AN/FPS-3 Radar was a Long Range Search Radar used by the United States Air Force Air Defense Command.
The AN/FPS-3 was an early Cold War radar which was a modified version of the World War II AN/CPS-5 long-range search radar. Bell Telephone Laboratories and General Electric developed the AN/CPS-5. General Electric began producing sets in January 1945. Designated as a transportable medium-range search radar, the unit was ideal for use in the Lashup system in conjunction with the AN/TPS-10 height-finder radar. It could be operated with a crew of ten. Some of these units remained to serve in the first permanent network. Designed to provide a solid search of up to 60 miles at 40,000 feet, the radar often had success tracking aircraft as far as 210 miles away.
The first AN/FPS-3 units came off the Bendix production line and were ready for installation in late 1950. Forty-eight of these L-band units were used within the first permanent network.
The AN/FPS-3B incorporated an AN/GPA-27, which increased the search altitude to 65,000 feet. Installation of these modifications began in 1957. The AN/MPS-7 was a mobile version of the AN/FPS-3.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.