The Cobra Judy Replacement program successfully achieved initial operational capability, March 31, providing the United States high-quality, dual-band radar data in support of ballistic missile treaty verification worldwide.
The U.S. Air Force now assumes operations and sustainment responsibilities for the vessel.
“We’re very excited to achieve initial operational capability,” said Capt. Roderick Wester, Cobra Judy Replacement major program manager, Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS). “This critical milestone is a testament to years of dedicated work from the government- industry team. Cobra Judy Replacement, with its advanced radar suite, will provide enhanced operational capabilities for decades.”
The program includes USNS Howard O. Lorenzen (T-AGM 25) and its mission equipment, which consists of integrated S- and X-band active electronically scanned radar antennas. Built by VT Halter Marine in Pascagoula, Mississippi, the ship will replace USNS Observation Island (T-AGM 23).
PEO IWS, an affiliated program executive office of the Naval Sea Systems Command, manages surface ship and submarine combat technologies and systems and coordinates the U.S. Navy enterprise solutions across ship platforms.
[mappress] Press Release, May 2, 2014; Image: Wikimedia