Sentinel Aerial Surveillance Radar — AN/MPQ-64
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DESCRIPTION

The AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel provides persistent air surveillance and fire control quality data through command and control systems to defeat Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), cruise missiles and fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft threats.

The system features an X-Band, 360-degree phased array air defense radar with a 75-km instrumented range. It is equipped with Electronic Counter-Counter-Measure capabilities, a Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe subsystem for positive identification of friendly aircraft, and Non-Cooperative Target Recognition capabilities to identify threat aircraft. Sentinel is trailer-mounted, pulled by either a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle or an M1082 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles truck. The system generator with a command and control interface is mounted on the vehicle.

Sentinel interfaces with the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System architecture, the Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control System, and the National Capital Region Integrated Air Defense Command and Control System. Sentinel also interfaces with the Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar (C-RAM) Increment I system to protect friendly aircraft during engagement of incoming indirect fire.

Sentinel is undergoing modifications to further enhance its detection, classification, identification and reporting capability against UAS, RAM and cruise missiles. Additional hardware modifications will include the upgrade of the Signal Data Processor and transition to Active Electronically Scanned Array technology.

BENEFIT TO THE SOLDIER

Sentinel provides persistent air surveillance and fire control quality data to the warfighter through command and control systems to defeat UAS, cruise missiles and fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft threats.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • All-weather, 360-degree capability
  • Range: 75 km
  • Three-dimensional X-Band radar
  • Supports current AMD systems, C-RAM and the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept (IFPC Inc 2-I) System

PROGRAM STATUS

3QFY18: Software v5.8.6 Urgent Materiel Release to National Capital Region
4QFY18: Production contract awarded for the Signal Data Processor

PROJECTED ACTIVITIES

4QFY18-4QFY19: Sentinel support to IFPC Flight Tests and Limited User Test
2QFY19-3QFY20: Sentinel support to IAMD Flight Tests and Limited User Test
2QFY20: Sentinel Software v5.8.6.1 and Signal Data Processor Hardware Full Materiel Release

Foreign Military Sales

  • Egypt, Iraq, Latvia, Lithuania and Turkey
  • The Cruise Missile Defense Systems Project Office established a Sentinel Radar Software International Engineering Services Program with six partner nations: Chile, Egypt, Finland, Netherlands, Norway and Oman
  • Direct Commercial Sales (hardware) with classified software sold via Foreign Military Sales (U.S. government controls Sentinel software): Finland, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Oman and Spain

Contractors

  • Thales Raytheon Systems (Fullerton, CA; El Paso, TX; Forest, MS; Largo, FL)
  • SETA Contract: IRTC (Huntsville, AL)