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At-sea tests of the Cobra Judy shipborne phased array radar system are now under way. Cobra Judy is an Air Force detection and tracking system for collecting data on foreign strategic ballistic missile tests. It was deigned, developed, and produced by Raytheon Company’s Equipment Di- ^'sion under contract to the Air Force Systems Command’s Electronic Systems Division in Bedford. Massachusetts.
Installed on the stern of a former “Mariner”-class merchant vessel, the USNS Observation Island, the large steel turret containing the advanced- design radar stands four stories high, weighs 250 tons, and is mechanically rotatable.
Cobra Judy has 12,288 individual antenna elements making up its 22- foot array. The antenna elements are computer controlled to form transmission patterns for precision detection and tracking.
During the test and evaluation phase, which is now taking place, the USNS Observation Island will be shipping out of Boston Harbor. Eventually, the system will operate in the Pacific Ocean and be based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
A high-priority surveillance system. Cobra Judy will provide Department of Defense planners with information pertinent to current international treaties as well as to future Strategic Arms Limitation Talks.
After a competitive procurement process dating back to mid 1977, Raytheon was selected as the prime contractor for the Cobra Judy system in January 1979. Contractor value thus far totals more than $60 million.
All three military services are involved in the Cobra Judy program with the Air Force serving as lead agency. Air Force and Air Force contractor personnel will manage, operate, and maintain technical systems on board the ship. The U. S. Navy Military Sealift Command owns and will operate the USNS Observation Island, which was dedicated recently in ceremonies in Boston.
The Cobra Judy radar on the Observation Island’s stern will serve as a national technical means for collecting data on foreign strategic ballistic missile tests. The key to its capabilities is the use of phased array technology.
Third World Seeks Control of World Merchant Shipping
^ lames H. Cunningham
bird World countries, strongly n. ^Ported by Russia and Eastern Bloc ,lons in the United National Coun- -j- Trade and Development (UNC-
nat' ’ are attemPting to force “inter- ^.'onalization” of all the world’s y^Ping through the adoption of the P CTAD Code of Conduct of Liner ^Pferences.
hi code contains a 40/40/20 for-
lra for distributing world merchant 1^ e- Generally, it works this way. a *■ United States and Brazil have an the'Ve .trade relationship. They split 4(w Upping up so that Brazil gets a United States get 40%, and
No World country gets 20%. '*• if the Third World country has
no fleet, it could charter vessels from another country, such as the Soviet Union.
Thus, the politically charged UNCTAD Liner Code dictates that the United States make some tough and unpleasant policy decisions about maritime transportation — decisions that pit the U. S. free enterprise system and economic philosophy against the realities of global politics and long- established foreign trade relationships. The question is: Mustthe United States abandon competitive market action in world trade and accept politically mandated market shares?
Legislation is already before the Congress to provide enabling laws that would permit the United States to ratify the Third World proposition. Other Free World countries, including members of the European Economic Community, are ready to ratify just as soon as their countries pass the necessary legislation.
The politically evolved market sharing proposed in the code completely corrupts the free enterprise system. The concept is both audacious and devious and has the Free World trading partners in a serious dilemma. Many appear at the point of being tempted to sacrifice long-term interests for short-term gains. Once again, the Free World is forced into a defensive posture at the United Na-
131
"IRS / October 1981