CTLR COMPLAINS ABOUT POOR RADAR COVERAGE WITH PRESENT ASR-8 SYS. WANTS ASR-9 RADAR.

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SMA X CONTACTED ABQ APCH STATING THAT HE HAD AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND WAS COMING THROUGH TIJERAS CANYON E OF ABQ. APCH ADVISED HIM TO MAKE STRAIGHT-IN FOR RWY 30; BUT RECEIVED NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED. BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION OF OUR PRIMARY RADAR; NO CLR TARGET OF THIS ACFT WAS OBSERVED UNTIL HE WAS ON A 1 1/2 MI FINAL FOR RWY 30. IT WAS DARK; AND HE HAD NO LIGHTS; SO OUR RADAR WAS THE ONLY CHANCE WE HAD OF FINDING HIM. SMA X LANDED SAFELY; BUT THE INCIDENT DEMONSTRATES A SERIOUS PROBLEM AT OUR FACILITY. THE ASR-8 AT ABQ NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE FAA RECOGNIZED THIS SOME TIME AGO; AND HAS BUILT AN ASR-9 AT ABQ; BUT EVEN THOUGH THE ASR-9 WAS COMPLETED ALMOST A YR AGO; IT HAS NOT BEEN INITIALIZED AND CERTIFIED BECAUSE OF PRIORITIES ELSEWHERE. 2 DAYS AFTER THE ABOVE INCIDENT; SMA Y WAS ON FINAL FOR RWY 17; WHEN HIS TRANSPONDER WENT OUT. AGAIN; NO PRIMARY TARGET WAS OBSERVED UNTIL THE ACFT WAS ON A MI FINAL. I QUESTIONED AF ABOUT THE SITUATION; AND WAS ADVISED THAT 6 'CARDS' HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE ASR-8 SYS. I WAS FURTHER ADVISED THAT 4 CTL PANELS ALSO NEEDED REBUILDING. THIS FACT WAS HIGHLIGHTED THE EVENING OF OCT/XX/92; AS A SUPVR WAS ATTEMPTING TO TRANSFER RADAR CTL FROM THE TRACON TO THE CAB; THE ENTIRE RADAR SHUT DOWN; AND THE ANTENNA STOPPED TURNING. I BELIEVE THAT THE AF PEOPLE AT ABQ ARE SECOND TO NONE; FOR WHEN WE PRESENT THEM WITH A PROBLEM; WE USUALLY GET ACTION INSTEAD OF EXCUSES. AS OF THIS WRITING; THE 6 'CARDS' HAVE BEEN REPLACED; AND 2 OF THE 4 CTL PANELS ARE IN OKC FOR REBUILDING. BUT WHY ARE WE WASTING TIME AND MONEY TO PATCH AN OLD SYS WHICH IS PROVING TO BE UNRELIABLE; WHEN THE ASR-9 IS IN PLACE AND READY TO GO? I BELIEVE THAT THE FAA'S PRIORITIES ARE MISPLACED; AND THAT IMMEDIATE STEPS NEED TO BE TAKEN TO ENSURE RELIABLE RADAR SVC IN THE ABQ AREA. WE NEED OUR ASR-9 SYS TURNED ON NOW.