MK 91 FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM
The Mk 91 NATO SEASPARROW Guided
Missile Fire Control System (GMFCS) integrates the
Mk 157 NATO SEASPARROW Surface Missile
System (NSSMS) into the Ship Self Defense System
(SSDS) to provide an additional layer of ship missile
defense. In this system, the Firing Officer Console and
Radar Set Consoles are combined into a single
Advanced Display System Console (AN/UYQ 70); the
Signal Data Processor is modified; the Mk 157
Computer Signal Data Converter and the System
Evaluation and Trainer (SEAT) are eliminated; and the
microprocessor circuitry within the SSDS electronics
is upgraded. This eliminates the limited input-output
channel and computer processing deficiencies resident
in the older Mk 57 NSSMS. The radar associated with
the Mk 91 Fire Control System includes the Mk 95
illuminator, Mk 23 Target Acquisitioning System, and
the AN/SPQ-9 series radar.
The Mk 95 illuminator is used exclusively with the
NATO SEASPARROW GMFCS. It is an X-band
tracker-illuminator on a Mk 78 director and works with
the Mk 23 TAS. The Mk 91 Fire Control System and its
associated radar systems are found on Spruance class
destroyers, carriers, LHDs, AOEs, AORs, and
TARAWA class amphibious assault ships.
See figure 2-10 for the various weapons systems
and radar associated with the Mk 86 and Mk 91 fire
control systems on a SPRUANCE class destroyer.
MK 92 FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM RADAR
The Mk 92 Fire Control System (FCS) provides
FFG-7 class frigates (Figure 2-11) and other surface
combatants with a fast reaction, high firepower,
all-weather weapons control system for use against air
and surface targets. The Mark 92’s surface and air
surveillance capability gives highly accurate gun and
missile control against air and surface targets.
The Mark 92 fire control system, an American
version of the WM-25 system designed in the
Netherlands, was approved for service use in 1975.
Introduction to the fleet and follow-on test and
evaluation began in 1978. In 1981, an aggressive
program to improve performance and reliability of the
Mk 92 fire control system in clutter and electronic
counter-measure environments was launched, with an
at-sea evaluation aboard the USS Estocin completed in
2-9
Figure 2-11.—FFG-57 PERRY class frigate.
Figure 2-10.—Weapons and sensors on SPRUANCE class destroyer.
