User:AN.FSQ-7/Tartar GMFCS

Purpose
The fundamental purpose of any naval surface-to-air missile system is to protect a ship (or ships) from hostile flying objects (i.e. aircraft, antiship missiles, et cetera) by introducing high explosives and fragmentation into the immediate vicinity of the aforementioned object. In order to do this with a semi-active missile like the RIM-24 Tartar or the RIM-66/67 Standard, the ship must find the target, track the target, calculate an intercept, prepare the missile for launching, illuminate the target, and fire the missile at the target.

The Mk. 74 Missile Fire Control System accomplishes the tasks in the middle of that list. It acquires the target with the AN/SPG-51 radar using information from the Weapon Direction System (WDS), points the Guided Missile Launch System (GMLS) in the right direction, generates commands for the missile to execute in flight, and illuminates the target using the CW illumination function of the SPG-51.

Overview
The Tartar Guided Missile Fire Control System is a component of the overall Tartar Weapons System. It consists of the target illuminators and associated computer systems needed to fire a missile once a target has been identified. It operates in conjunction with the weapon direction systems (WDS), the ship's long-range air search radars, and the guided missile launch system (GMLS) to engage air targets.

The Tartar FCS receives target designation information from the WDS. The system then acquires and tracks the target, positions the missile launcher, programs the missile with intercept data, and lets the WDS know that it is ready to fire. Once the missile is fired, the FCS provides CW illumination of the target and postfiring evaluation.

There are two major families of Tartar FCS: the Mk. 74 and the Mk. 92. The latter is used on the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate and the former is used everywhere else. Each Mk 74 includes the AN/SPG-51, a director Mk 73, a computer system, and associated consoles. The Mk. 92 contains a combined antenna system (CAS), a separate track illumination radar (STIR), weapon control consoles, a computer complex, and ancillary equipment.

Computer Systems
All Mk. 74 missile fire control systems have a computer complex that The Charles F. Adams-class destroyers, Brooke-class frigates, and California-class cruisers use the Mk. 152 computer for their missile fire control systems. The Spruance-class destroyers, and the Virginia-class cruiser use the AN/UYK-7 computer.