US defense firm Lockheed Martin completes first TPY-4 radar production

News, US May 11, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Lockheed Martin completes production of its first TPY-4 radar, set to provide air defense radar to the U.S. Air Force and international customers.

TPY-4 radar is considered to be one of the most advanced and capable transportable or fixed air defense long-range radars.

According to the Lockheed Martin release, “The technology that enables TPY-4 provides the capability required for today’s threats and unprecedented flexibility to adjust quickly to those that emerge over time.”

Director of Ground Based Air Surveillance Radars at Lockheed Martin, Rick Herodes said that “Lockheed Martin is committed to investing in advanced defense technology, and the TPY-4 radar is a direct result of those investments. TPY-4 meets the needs of a rapidly changing battlefields, marked by technological growth and the emergence of increasingly challenging threats.”

In March this year, Lockheed Martin’s first AN/TPY-4 radar has been selected by the U.S. Air Force for the Three Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar (3DELRR) Rapid Prototyping program. The 3DELRR contract includes production options for 35 long-range radar systems, planned to reach Initial Operational Capability.

*^{Lockheed Martin’s next-generation radar, TPY-4. (Image Credit: Lockheed Martin)}*

Earlier in July 2021, the AN/TPY-4 radar received official nomenclature from the U.S. Government and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) delivered the Platform Electronics Subsystem (PES) for the first TPY-4 radar. According to the company’s press release, “The Lockheed Martin and KDA partnership leverages Lockheed Martin’s state of the art radar technology and KDA’s experience in defense industry solutions, resulting in a next generation sensor that meets and exceeds current long range surveillance requirements.”

TPY-4 Key Features:

TPY 4 is designed as a multi-mission system with the capability of tracking current and emerging threats. It can also be integrated into existing air defense systems.

It can detect smaller, harder-to-detect next-generation threats in heavy clutter.

The radar operators can quickly pivot from one mission to another, enabling them to address threats in a contested environment. The radar will operate in extreme climates and environments.

The system is digital at every element with the operation and performance-defined software enabling quick upgrades to combat emerging threats.

The system is available in both fixed and transportable variants able to be transported via C-130, C-17, truck, rail, or helicopter.