Lockheed Martin has secured a $1.6bn contract to produce additional AN/TPQ-53 counterfire radar systems for the US Army.
Using the Q-53 radar system, troops in combat will be able to detect, classify, track and identify the location of enemy indirect fire in either 360° or 90° modes.
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The radar system can be readily adapted to provide both air surveillance and counterfire target acquisition in one tactical sensor, Lockheed stated.
Lockheed Martin Q-53 radar programme director Rick Herodes said: "What's so special about the Q-53 radar system is the inherent flexibility of its software controlled active electronically scanned array (AESA).
“Our engineers can adjust the Q-53's software to address emerging threats. Having control in the software allows quick reaction to whatever comes next – so the first Q-53 radar system off the line could be quickly updated to be just as capable as the 170th Q-53 radar system."
The Q-53 radar demonstrated its multi-mission radar (MMR) capability by identifying and tracking aerial systems and transmitting that information to a command and control node.
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By GlobalDataThis mobile system supports counter-insurgency missions and high-intensity combat operations.
Work on the Q-53 radars is performed at Lockheed Martin's facilities in Syracuse and Owego, New York, Moorestown, New Jersey, and Clearwater, Florida, US.
Lockheed Martin completed the development of 100th Q-53 radar system for the army in January.
In November 2016, Lockheed Martin received a $28m Army contract for 'quick reaction capability to add counter-unmanned aerial system to the AN/TPQ-53 radar system'.
Image: The AN/TPQ-53 radar system supports counter-insurgency missions as well as high-intensity combat operations. Photo: courtesy of Lockheed Martin.
