Counterfire Target Acquisition Radar — AN/TPQ-53
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

DESCRIPTION

The AN/TPQ-53 provides the next generation answer to the aging legacy Firefinder Radars (AN/TPQ-36 and AN/TPQ-37) by providing improved acquisition and identification of mortar, artillery and rocket munitions in the 90 degree mode and introducing the capability to operate in the 360 degree mode at greater ranges than the AN/TPQ-50 system.

BENEFIT TO THE SOLDIER

Compared to current AN/TPQ-36 and AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder Radar systems, AN/TPQ-53 offers enhanced performance, including greater mobility, increased reliability and supportability, lower life cycle cost, reduced crew size and the ability to track targets in a full-spectrum environment — a vital capability on today’s battlefield.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • 90 degree mode of operation: Mortar: .5-20 km; Artillery: 3-34 km; Rocket: 5-60 km
  • 360 degree mode of operation: Mortar: 3-15 km; Artillery: 5-20 km; Rocket 5-20 km
  • Probability of location greater than or equal to 85 percent in clutter-free and clutter environments
  • Crew size: Five Soldiers; Military occupational specialty: 13R
  • Emplacement: 10 minutes; Displacement: 5 minutes
  • Air, rail or ship transportable
  • Max speed: ~100 kph
  • Max cruising range: ~ 480 km
  • Rapidly deployable to, and integrated into, the tactical battlefield with heavy, medium and light forces
  • Mobile, maneuverable, fully supportable and easily maintained

PROGRAM STATUS

1QFY16: Entrance into Full Rate Production (FRP)

3QFY16:

  • Conditional Materiel Release approved
  • First Unit Equipped

2QFY17: FRP Contract Award; $1.6 billion
2QFY18: ACAT IC designation

PROJECTED ACTIVITIES

1QFY20: Organic Depot capability established; Tobyhanna Army Depot, Pennsylvania
4QFY21: Production ends
1QFY22: Transition to Sustainment; U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, Maryland

Contractors

  • Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems (Syracuse, NY)