TRS wins US Army Firefinder radar contract

ThalesRaytheonSystems (TRS) has announced that it has been awarded a contract by the US Army to upgrade the Receiver Exciter (REX) in the Improved AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar. The contract, worth $44.9 million, was announced 30 August 2012.

The Improved AN/TPQ-37 is a long-range weapon locating radar, previously deployed by US forces in Iraq and currently in Afghanistan.  Firefinder radars accurately locate the position of hostile artillery, rockets and mortars so that friendly forces can quickly return precision fire.

The enhanced REX is part of the US Army's programme to further improve the AN/TPQ-37's performance, maintainability and reliability, while extending the service life of these long-range counter-battery systems. The REX unit performs two critical radar functions: It produces the signal transmitted from the radar antenna and conditions the received signal for processing within the radar's computer system.

According to TRS, the upgrade for the Improved AN/TPQ-37 is available as a field or depot retrofit, or in new production radars, and the Enhanced REX will contribute to the Improved AN/TPQ-37's reduced total cost of ownership and ‘unsurpassed weapon locating performance’.

Kim Kerry, chief executive officer, TRS, US operations, commented on the contract win: ‘The extensive improvements and enhancements, including the REX, make the Improved AN/TPQ-37 an essentially new system, while retaining its vast history and combat proven credentials. There is no other weapon locating radar that can match the AN/TPQ-37 in terms of performance, reliability and readiness.’

The REX Modification Kits and spares are scheduled to be delivered to the US Army mid-2013.