AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder radar

Engineering development of the TPQ-36 began October 1973. Although full scale production was approved in December 1977,{{sfn|O'Connor|Kairall|Birdseye|1984|p=50}} the system did not achieve full scale production until August 1978.{{sfn|O'Connor|Kairall|Birdseye|1984|p=66}} Low rate initial production (LRIP) began in December 1976 ending in February 1981.{{sfn|O'Connor|Kairall|Birdseye|1984|p=66}} Total crew size required for missions and operational requirements for extended periods was initially estimated at 8 personnel.{{sfn|O'Connor|Kairall|Birdseye|1984|p=56}}

The AN/TPQ-36(V)7 upgrade to the Firefinder added a Modular Azimuth Position System (MAPS). MAPS has a north seeking laser gyrocompass and a microprocessor controlled Honeywell H-726 inertial navigation system. Prior Firefinder systems used a survey team to find site latitude, longitude, and direction to North. With MAPS, reaction time was limited only by the time taken to set up the site, since system geo-position was pre-loaded before sortie deployment. Crew size was reduced from 8 to 6.{{cite journal |publisher= U. S. Army Depot Command |location= Sacramento Army Depot |title= Firefinder AN/TPQ-36(V)7 Block IIB |journal= Preliminary Design Review |date= 8 January 1991 |page= System Integration}}

Firefinder (V)8 extended system performance, improved operator survivability and lowered life cycle cost. Greater processing power and the addition of a low noise amplifier to the radar antenna improved detection range by up to 50% and performance accuracy against certain threats.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

File:US delivers two Q-36 counter battery radar systems to Ukraine.jpg, Ukraine on 14 November 2015]]

The AN/TPQ-36 is a passive electronically scanned array (PESA) electronically steered radar, meaning the radar antenna does not actually move while in operation. The radar antenna may however be moved manually if required. The system may also be operated in a friendly fire mode to determine the accuracy of counterbattery return fire, or for conducting radar registration or mean point of impact calibrations for friendly artillery.

It can simultaneously locate up to 10 weapons including mortars, artillery, and rocket launchers, on first round and perform high-burst, datum-plane, and impact registrations. It can be used to adjust friendly fire, interfaces with tactical fire and predicts the impact of hostile projectiles.

Its maximum range is {{convert|24|km|order=flip}} with an effective range of {{convert|18|km|order=flip}} for artillery and {{convert|24|km|order=flip}} for rockets. Its azimuth sector is 90°. It operates in the X-band at 32 frequencies. Peak transmitted power is 23 kW, min.

It features permanent storage for 99 targets, has a field exercise mode and uses a digital data interface.

Northrop Grumman manufactures the AN/TPQ-36(V)8 Firefinder radar. Before its acquisition by Raytheon, the Hughes Aircraft Co. developed the TPQ-36 Firefinder radar at its facility at Fullerton, California, and manufactured it at its plant in Forest, Mississippi.

In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the nomenclature "AN/TPQ-36" designation represents the 36th design of an Army-Navy electronic device for transportable radar special purpose (multipurpose). Thus:

• "AN/" indicates Army/Navy(Marines).
• "T" for transportable, indicating it is carried by a vehicle but not an integral part of said vehicle (compare with "V" for vehicle-mounted).
• "P" indicating a radar.
• "Q" for a special-purpose (multipurpose) radar, in this case counterbattery.
• "36" is the 36th version of this family of TPQ radar systems.

• {{AUS}}: Used by Australian Defence Force{{Cite web |title= Raytheon Australia contracted for Life of Type Extension for AN/TPQ-36 Weapon Locating Radars |url= http://raytheon.au.mediaroom.com/news-release-archive?item=32 |date= April 20, 2007 |access-date= May 25, 2025 |language= en-AU |website= Raytheon Australia - News Release Archive}}
• {{CHI}}: Used by Chilean Army{{cn|date=May 2025}}
• {{NLD}}: Used by Royal Netherlands Army{{Cite news |title= Royal Netherlands Army orders Thales Multi Mission Radars |first= Matteo |last= Natalucci |url= https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/royal-netherlands-army-orders-thales-multi-mission-radars |date= February 15, 2019 |access-date=2022-07-08 |website=Janes.com |language=en |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221008002626/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/royal-netherlands-army-orders-thales-multi-mission-radars |archive-date= October 8, 2022}}
• {{POR}}: Used by Portuguese Army (5th Artillery Regiment){{Cite web |title= Raytheon / Hughes AN/TPQ-36 Firefinding Radar |url= https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.php?smallarms_id=158 |author= Staff Writer |date= February 26, 2018 |access-date= May 25, 2025 |website= Military Factory |language= en}}
• {{PAK}}: Used by Pakistan Army.{{cite news |date= 18 April 2002 |title= India signs 'historic' US arms deal |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1937313.stm |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180414013949/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1937313.stm |archive-date= 14 April 2018 |access-date= May 25, 2025 |work= BBC News |quote= The Pentagon said the sale would not affect the military balance with Pakistan, which deploys the AN/TPQ-36}}
• {{ESP}}: Used by Spanish Army{{cn|date=May 2025}}
• {{SRI}}: Used by Sri Lankan Army{{cn|date=May 2025}}
• {{TUR}}: Used by Turkish Land Forces
• {{UKR}}:{{cite news |url= https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-uses-us-radar-to-monitor-cease-fire-violations/28942397.html |title= Ukraine Monitors Cease-Fire Violations With U.S.-Supplied Radars |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171227232657/https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-uses-us-radar-to-monitor-cease-fire-violations/28942397.html |date=2017-12-27 |work= Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |agency= Reuters, VOA |archive-date=2017-12-27 |url-status= live}}
• Two units delivered by US Army in 2015.{{Cite web |author= US Embassy Press Office, Kyiv |date= 2015-11-16 |title= US delivers two Q-36 Counter Battery Radar Systems to Ukraine |url= https://www.army.mil/article/158630/us_delivers_two_q_36_counter_battery_radar_systems_to_ukraine |access-date= May 25, 2025 |website= US Army |language= en |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211124202956/https://www.army.mil/article/158630/us_delivers_two_q_36_counter_battery_radar_systems_to_ukraine |archive-date= 2021-11-24 |url-status= live}}
• Five units delivered by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence in March 2022, during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{cite magazine |first1= Naqi |last1= Wasif |date= 2022-03-03 |title= Ukraine conflict: Netherlands to supply weapon locating radars to Ukraine |url = https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/ukraine-conflict-netherlands-to-supply-weapon-locating-radars-to-ukraine |magazine = Jane's Defence Weekly |access-date= May 25, 2025 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220323201750/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/ukraine-conflict-netherlands-to-supply-weapon-locating-radars-to-ukraine |language= en |archive-date= 2022-03-23 |issn= 0265-3818 |oclc= 613908494 |quote= The Netherlands Ministry of Defence (MoD) is to supply two Squire manportable 2D ground surveillance radars and five AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder weapon locating radars to Ukraine}}
• Ten units delivered by US Army on April 13, 2022, three more deliveries on May 19,{{Cite web |url= https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3037837/100-million-in-additional-security-assistance-for-ukraine/source/100-million-in-additional-security-assistance-for-ukraine/ |title= $100 Million in Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine |website= Defense.gov |date= 2022-05-19 |access-date= May 25, 2025 |language= en}} during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite web |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tOuhNKsiy4 |title= Pentagon holds briefing as Biden announces additional $800M in security assistance to Ukraine |website= YouTube |date= 2022-04-13}}
• {{USA}}: Used by United States Army, United States Marine Corps

{{Portal|Electronics}}

• Gun data computer
• {{anl|AN/MPQ-64}}
• {{anl|ARTHUR (military)}}
• {{anl|Red Color}}
• {{anl|SLC-2 Radar}}
• {{anl|Swathi Weapon Locating Radar}}
• {{anl|Joint Electronics Type Designation System}}
• List of radars
• List of military electronics of the United States

{{Reflist}}

• {{Citation |url= https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA137636.pdf |title= US Army Firefinder Radars: A Case Study of Manpower, Personnel and Training Requirements Determination |first1= F. E. |last1= O'Connor |first2= R. L. |last2= Kairall |first3= E. H. |last3= Birdseye |publisher= US Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences |date= January 1984 |access-date= May 26, 2025}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160131133827/http://www.thalesraytheon.com/capabilities/radars/weapon-locating/antpq-36.html Product Description for AN/TPQ-36] from ThalesRaytheonSystems
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20121202125832/http://www.thalesraytheon.com/fileadmin/tmpl/Products/pdf/TPQ-36_Radar_Data_Sheet_-_April_2011.pdf TPQ-36 Radar Data Sheet] from ThalesRaytheonSystems
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060527211513/http://www.raytheon.com/products/tpq36/ Fact sheet for the AN/TPQ-36] from Raytheon
• [http://www.bes.co.il/FireFinder_RCS.htm ROCS new upgrades for TPQ-36/37] from BES Systems
• [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/an-tpq-36.htm Fact file for the AN/TPQ-36] from GlobalSecurity.org

{{Northrop Grumman}}

{{Raytheon}}

Category:Ground radars

Category:Hughes Aircraft Company

Category:Military radars of the United States

Category:Northrop Grumman radars

Category:Radar equipment of the Cold War

Category:Raytheon Company products

Category:Weapon locating radar

Category:Military radars of the United States Marine Corps

Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1980s

Category:Military electronics of the United States