AUSA 2011: LM pushes EQ-36 counter-fires radar

October 10, 2011 Darren Lake, SHEPARD GROUP

Washington DC - Lockheed Martin is exhibiting its Enhanced AN/TPQ-36 (EQ-36) Counter-fire Target Acquisition Radar at AUSA 2011 following its successful employment by the US Army.

The company recently submitted a contract proposal for full-rate production of the EQ-36 as the new US Army radar to provide soldiers in combat with enhanced 360-degree protection from rockets, mortars and artillery.

The radar is expected to replace legacy AN/TPQ-36 and AN/TPQ-37 medium-range radars currently in the US Army’s inventory. According to Lee Flake, Lockheed Martin’s Director Integrated Warfare Systems and Sensors, the original requirement was for up to 170 systems.

The radar was developed by Lockheed Martin under a separate 2007 contract to detect, classify, track and locate the source of enemy indirect fire in either 360- or 90-degree modes. The company delivered four developmental systems and is proceeding on to deliver 32 systems under several limited production contract awards.

‘It is very capable from a readiness level and has a very good rate of use,’ Flake told Shephard. So far the company has delivered 14 production systems and the four developmental radars.

‘I currently have five radars in Iraq and five in Afghanistan with another two about to head over,’ Flake continued. The first of these was deployed in the fall of 2010.

‘We send a field service representative with each radar, and they become part of the unit. They follow the radar through the production process and know everything about it because they are there when it is born.’

The company says it is getting high levels of reliability out of the system. ‘All I can say is that we are doing much better than the requirement,’ Flake hedged.

The radar is mounted on its five-ton truck. The Mission Essential Group contains the radar antenna and the power generator; while the Sustainment Group configuration incorporates an operations control shelter and backup power generator.

The EQ-36 has a crew of four, but the high levels of automation mean that it can be operated with two personnel. In comparison the current AN/TPQ-36 has a crew of six and the AN/TPQ-37 has a full team of twelve.

Flake said he expected to hear from the US Army about full rate production of the radar in the next six months. ‘We are currently building two systems a month, but could increase that to a much higher level. We are prepared to be flexible and could go to any numbers that the army wants us to,’ he concluded.