AN/FPS-24


Artist's conception of AN/FPS-24 tower and antenna.

General Electric built an FD search radar designed to operate in the Very High Frequency (VHF) at 214 to 236 MHz. There were problems with this radar at the test site at Eufaula, Alabama, in 1960. These problems required many modifications. Additional problems occurred when deployment was attempted in 1961. When the radar finally deployed, bearing problems often occurred due to the eighty-five ton antenna weight. Twelve systems were built between 1958 and 1962.

Click here for Communications & Electronics Digest article on AN/FPS-24 Installation Progress.

Click here for some hand-drawn floor diagrams of the FPS-24 tower.

The FPS-24 Radar Tower


A 3-part article by Steve Weatherly


(Each part is a fairly large PDF file)


   Part 1


   Part 2A


   Part 2B


The last AN/FPS-24 in the Air Force


A view from the top of the FPS-24 sail at Pt. Austin AFS, MI


Photo taken after the failure of the main bearing.


Several photos of the feedhorn assembly and support, along with a size perspective.



Only one of two AN/FPS-24 radars to be successfully covered with a radome was at Cottonwood AFS, ID, pictured here. The other was at Mount Hebo AFS, OR.

Some photos from inside the Mt. Hebo radome

Sites using FPS-24 systems

Perm ID
Sage ID
Location Model Notes
M-96
Z-96
Almaden AFS, CA   2nd production model
SM-132
Z-132
Baudette AFS, MN    
P-46
Z-46
Blaine AFS, WA    
M-110
Z-110
Bucks Harbor AFS, ME    
SM-150
Z-150
Cottonwood AFS, ID   had a radome
TM-199
Z-199
Eufaula AFS, AL   prototype; radar mounted on steel tower
SM-147
Z-147
Malmstrom AFB, MT    
M-100
Z-100
Mount Hebo AFS, OR   had 3 different radomes, all destroyed by mother nature
RP-62
Z-62
Oakdale AI, PA    
P-37
Z-37
Point Arena AFS, CA   1st production model
P-61
Z-61
Port Austin AFS, MI    
M-130
Z-130
Winston-Salem AFS, NC