Army orders more counterfire target acquisition radars from Lockheed Martin
NewsMay 02, 2012
The $391 million in production orders result from two contract options for a total of 33 AN/TPQ-53 (Q-53) counterfire target acquisition radars – formerly known as EQ-36 during their development and initial production – to be deployed to the customer by the end of 2014. The options include testing, spares, and training materials. If all options are exercised, 38 additional low- and full-rate production systems might be added and the total contract value would exceed about $800 million.
The Q-53 – previously fielded in Iraq and Afghanistan – detects, classifies and tracks enemy indirect fire, and locates its source, in either 360- or 90-degree modes, Lockheed Martin officials say. The radar, which is mounted on a five-ton truck can be rapidly deployed, automatically leveled as well as remotely operated via a laptop computer or from a equipped climate-controlled command vehicle.
Lockheed Martin was awarded the competitive development contract for the EQ-36 radar in 2007. Army officials awarded the company an accelerated contract for 12 initial production systems in July 2008 as well as a contract with options for an additional 20 systems in April 2010. Late in 2010, the Army began uses EQ-36 systems to combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Lockheed Martin submitted its bid for this current contract in open competition in September of last year.
Lockheed Martin engineers will work on the Q-53 radar contract at company facilities in Syracuse, N.Y., Moorestown, N.J., Akron, Ohio, and Clearwater, Fla.
