According to information published by Hawaii News Now on March 6, 2023, the Sea-Based X-Band Radar will leave Hawaii shortly after completing a maintenance period.
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Sea-Based X-Band Radar. (Picture source: Missile Defense Agency)
The Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX-1) is an innovative radar station designed to operate in harsh conditions. This floating, self-propelled, mobile active electronically scanned array early-warning radar station was developed by the United States Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency (MDA) as part of their Ballistic Missile Defense System.
The radar is mounted on a fifth-generation CS-50 twin-hulled semi-submersible oil platform, which was converted at the AmFELS yard in Brownsville, Texas.
The radar mount was built and installed on the vessel at the Kiewit yard in Ingleside, Texas. It's primarily based at Adak Island in Alaska but has also spent considerable time at Pearl Harbor in test status.
The SBX-1 has a length of 389 feet (119 m), a beam of 238 feet (73 m), a height of 85 meters (279 ft) from keel to top of radome, and a draft of approximately 33 feet (10 m) when in motion or not on station.
However, when on station, its draft increases to approximately 98 feet (30 m). The vessel is fully passive stabilized and remains within 10 degrees of horizontal on station.
The SBX-1 has a speed of 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) and a radar range of 2,000 kilometers (1,200 mi). The vessel has a displacement of 50,000 short tons (45,000,000 kg) and cost approximately US$900 million to build. The radar, which is mounted on top of the vessel, has a height of 103 feet (31 m), a diameter of 120 feet (37 m), and weighs 18,000 pounds (8,200 kg).
