Lockheed Martin receives counterfire radar order

Lockheed Martin is to supply additional AN/TPQ-53 (Q-53) long-range counterfire radars to the US Army under a $206 million contract announced on 26 August.

The company will supply 19 Q-53 systems under this order. Lockheed Martin was awarded the original competitive development contract for the Q-53 radar in 2007. Since then it has supplied 32 initial production systems to the US Army, and a further 33 systems are currently in production under a March 2012 order.

The Q-53, formerly designated as EQ-36, is mounted on a five-ton truck and can be rapidly deployed, automatically levelled and remotely operated with a laptop computer or from a fully equipped climate-controlled command vehicle. The system provides soldiers with enhanced 360-degree protection from indirect fire such as mortars, artillery and rockets.

Lee Flake, program director for counterfire target acquisition radar programs, Lockheed Martin Mission Systems & Training, said: ‘The Q-53 radar is helping to save the lives of US forces through its exceptional performance in theatre. Deployed since 2010, we have listened to feedback from our soldiers to ensure the system meets operational demands and is evolving to stay ahead of global threats.’