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lion awarded this March for two additional radars expected to be delivered by the end of 2017. The CRAM capability is being added to these radars (and will also feature on future radars once the programme enters Full Rate Production, expected in circa 2020, according to media reports) as a “software only” enhancement, according to Mark Smith director of The US Army is replacing its AN/TPQ-37 and AN/TPQ-36(V)10 business development radars with Lockheed Martin’s AN/TPQ-53 which provides for Northrop Grumman’s significant range improvements, detecting incoming threats at a distance of 32.3nm © Lockheed Martin ground-based tactical radars. Regarding the AN/ TPS-80 itself, this AESA radar operates in Systems/Hägglunds BV206 tracked vehicles on which they are currently fit- S-band, although its instrumented range has not been revealed. ted. Deliveries of the first upgraded The AN/TPS-80 radar was conceived ARTHUR radars are expected to be made to replace a host of disparate groundto Norway in 2017. As noted above, Saab’s Giraffe-4A ra- based air surveillance radars which the USMC currently has in service, includdar can perform CRAM/CB. The S-band Giraffe-4A was launched in May 2014. ing the ThalesRaytheonSystems’ (TRS) AN/TPQ-46B CRAM/CB radar. This The radar can search across a 360-degree azimuth, although it can be used in a non- radar is in turn the USMC’s version of the Northrop Grumman/TRS AN/TPQrotating mode, and covers 70 degrees of elevation. The radar performs air surveil- 36(V)10 Firefinder radar in service with the US Army. Using an AESA antenna, lance to an instrumented range of 151nm the S-band AN/TPQ-36 family of CRAM/ (280km) and has a weapons-location CB radars, which also includes the AN/ function allowing it to detect such targets TPQ-36(V)7/8, can detect incoming rockat up to 54nm (100km). It is known that ets at a range of up to 12.9nm (24km), acthe Giraffe-4A has received an order, but cording to published sources. The TRS Saab has not revealed the customer, how AN/TPQ-37 is the larger sibling of the many examples have been procured, or when deliveries of the radar will com- AN/TPQ-36 family which has a reported range of 26.9nm (50km). mence and conclude. Both the AN/TPQ-37 and AN/TPQ36(V)10 are being replaced in US Army US Modernisation Significant recent activity has been wit- service by Lockheed Martin’s S-band AN/TPQ-53. In October 2015 the firm nessed in the United States regarding CRAM/CB developments. This is unsur- was awarded an $85 million contract prising given the rocket and artillery at- modification for seven radars, bringing tacks which US forces have faced in Af- the total number of the 32.3nm (60km) range AN/TPQ-53s ordered by the US ghanistan and Iraq since the start of the century. On 31 August, Northrop Grum- Army to date to 97, totalling $836 million, since deliveries began in 2010. As of Ocman received a contract from the US Navy tober, 55 radars have been accepted into to outfit the AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) ground- US Army service. The award of an FRP for the AN/TPQ-53, which could cover based air surveillance system which it is a total of 70 radars, is expected in 2016, developing for the United States Marine Corps (USMC) with a CRAM/CB ca- according to Bob Stelmack, AN/TPQ-53 programme director at Lockheed Martin. pability known as the Ground Locating Deliveries of the FRP radars are expected Weapons Radar enhancement. to conclude in circa 2022, resulting in the The company received its first Low US Army eventually operating a total of Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract 174 examples. Export orders have been for the AN/TPS-80 in October 2014 forthcoming from Singapore (six radars which covered four systems, with a follow-up LRIP contract worth $113 mil- ordered in October 2013 for circa $179
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million), state confidential AMR sources. According to Mr. Stelmack, the AN/TPQ53 can be mounted on a truck or trailer. Lockheed Martin argues that the radar is a significant improvement compared to legacy CRAM/CB radars deployed with the US Army as it offers “enhanced performance, including greater mobility, increased reliability and supportability”. One should also be aware of US firm SRC which produces the AN/TPQ-48 LMCR (Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar). In service with the US Army, the Lband (1.215-1.4GHz) radar can detect and track multiple targets in three dimensions. Covering 360 degrees of azimuth, it has a range of 5.3nm, and provide 75 metres/m (246 feet/ft) point of origin accuracy at 2.6nm (five kilometres), the firm’s official literature notes. Its sibling, the AN/TPQ50, provides similar detection ranges, but a point-of-origin accuracy of 50m (164ft) at 5.3nm. The AN/TPQ-50 can be vehicle mounted onboard a four-wheel drive, and is in service with the US Army.
Indian Ingenuity The United States and suppliers in Europe and Israel are joined by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) of India which, together with the Indian government’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has developed its Weapons Locating Radar (WLR). This C-band product has a range of up to 16.1nm (30km), according to publicly available sources, and is equipped with a PESA array (see above). In 2002, the Indian Army ordered an initial twelve radars. According to a written statement provided to AMR by BEL, an order for a further 30 radars is expected shortly, the delivery of which is expected to take up to 48 months.
New Materials Looking towards the future, new materials offer promise for CRAM/CB radars. For example, Gallium Nitride (GaN) has been employed in the construction of the AN/ TPS-80 and Giraffe-4A (see above). GaN is a highly robust material which can withstand high temperatures. The use of GaN will enable the T/R modules used in the AESA antennae of CRAM/CB radars, along with other radar types, to operate at comparatively higher power amplification levels given the temperatures which GaN can tolerate. These higher power amplification levels will translate into improved detection ranges and sharper target resolution for CRAM/CB radars; all factors which will help to save lives on the ground. AMR
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