Editing SAMPSON (section)

{{short description|Multifunction, rotating AESA radar}}
{{other uses|Sampson (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox Radar 
|name        = SAMPSON
|image       = SAMPSON-rotation-composite-3.jpg
|caption     = 2012 composite photographed at less than one second interval showing SAMPSON antenna rotation.
|country     = [[United Kingdom]] 
|introdate   = 
|number      = 7
|type        = Solid-state [[Active electronically scanned array|AESA]] radar
|frequency   = 2–4 GHz ([[S band]])
|range       = 400&nbsp;km<ref>{{cite journal |last=Dranidis |first=Dimitris V. |date=May 2003 |title=Backboards of the fleet: shipboard phased-array radars; a survey of requirements, technologies, and operational systems |journal=Journal of Electronic Defense |volume=26 |issue=5 |pages=55 }}</ref> 
|altitude    =
|diameter    = 
|azimuth     = 
|elevation   = 
|precision   =
|power       = 25&nbsp;kW
}}

The '''SAMPSON''' is a multi-function dual-face [[active electronically scanned array]] [[radar]] produced by [[BAE Systems Maritime – Naval Ships|BAE Systems Maritime]]. It is the fire control radar component of the Sea Viper naval air defence system. The Sea Viper system is also known as PAAMS(S) to denote the use of the SAMPSON radar and to distinguish it from the [[PAAMS]] system on the Franco-Italian [[Horizon-class frigate]].

The SAMPSON multifunction radar can detect air and surface targets out to a distance of {{cvt|400|km}}, and it is capable of tracking hundreds of targets at any one time. Sea Viper uses this information to assess and command target priorities and calculate the optimum launch time for its Aster missiles.