With these three pieces of data the radar's central processor has the ability to place the target in an X,Y,Z, 3 dimensional space.

For the SPS-48 in particular, the antenna is mechanically rotated to scan azimuth, while beams are electronically steered to cover elevation by varying the transmitter frequency.

According to ITT Exelis,[2] the system has a range exceeding 200 nmi (370 km) and can track targets up to 69 degrees in elevation.

Testing results were positive, and the AN/SPS-48 was formally approved for service use by the Chief of Naval Operations on 21 February 1966.

[8] The AN/SPS-48 replaced AN/SPS-39 on the Belknap, Coontz and Leahy classes between 1967 and 1975 under the Guided Missile Frigate Anti-Air Warfare Modernization Program.

[6]: 94 The AN/SPS-48B is noted as being installed on the Nimitz class aircraft carriers prior to the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72).

It contained a special-purpose "pipeline processor" that had large amounts of memory for scan-to-scan comparisons and to identify and save blips that seemed to persist near the same location.

These blips and clutter changes that may be possible targets were sent to the NTDS, which did further comparisons to determine which ones had motions characteristic of a ship or airplane.

The new commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) radar processor's computing capabilities will be sustained through a planned tech-refresh program.

More intuitive and interactive built-in-test and embedded maintenance and operator training makes available all radar technical, engineering, and logistics data and allows remote monitoring and distance support, while ensuring accurate and timely configuration management.