Lockheed Martin successfully operated its full-scale
prototype long-range air surveillance radar during a recent capability
demonstration to the US Air Force.
The Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar
(3DELRR) will serve as the principal Air Force long-range, ground-based sensor
for detecting, identifying, and reporting aerial targets. This next-generation
system will replace the US Air Force’s AN/TPS-75 air search radar.
During the event, the 3DELRR full-scale prototype showed its
maturity, flexibility, scalability, and the benefits of its open technology
design. The radar detected required targets of opportunity launched from the
Syracuse airport and surrounding areas. The company hired additional test
aircraft for the event, putting the prototype through more advanced performance
detection and tracking scenarios expected of long-range radars.
Originally unveiled in December 2010, Lockheed Martin’s
3DELRR solution met all the requirements for this demonstration two and half
years earlier, and used this opportunity to highlight the radar’s evolving
design to the customer. The radar’s design addresses 100 per cent of 3DELRR
requirements, including critical extended air surveillance reach for early
warning from aerial threats.
The US Air Force is expected to release its request for
proposals for the next phase of the program in the August or September 2013
timeframe. With that competition, the customer will select one contractor for
the engineering and manufacturing development phase, which will be awarded in
2014.
During the event, the 3DELRR full-scale prototype showed its maturity, flexibility, scalability, and the benefits of its open technology design.
