AN/TPQ-53 Quick Reaction Capability Radar
{{short description|Ground radar system}}
File:Q-53 Counterfire Target Acquisition Radar.jpg ]]AN/TPQ-53 Quick Reaction Capability Radar is a mobile active electronically scanned array counter-battery radar system manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The radar is specifically designed to locate the firing positions of both rocket and mortar launchers. It has a maximum detection range of {{convert|38|mi|km|abbr=on}} and has an operating frequency of 2{{en dash}}4 GHz.
In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the "AN/TPQ-53" designation represents the 53rd design of an Army-Navy electronic device for ground transportable special combination radar system. The JETDS system also now is used to name all Department of Defense electronic systems.
History
The TPQ-53 radar's delivery on 2 July 2009 followed its successful live-fire performance testing against indirect fire from mortars, artillery and rockets from a simulated enemy. The system has been tested and approved by the US Army.
TPQ-53 radar systems will replace the aging TPQ-36 and TPQ-37 medium-range radars now in the Army's inventory. In addition to its counter-fire and counter-drone missions,[https://scout.com/military/warrior/Article/Army-Q-53-Radar-Can-Now-Stop-Drone-Attacks-101457499 Army Q-53 Radar Can Now Stop Drone Attacks]{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Prior to September 2011 This system was known as EQ-36 Counterfire Target Acquisition Radar.{{cite journal|last=Fein|first=Geoff|title=Weapon Finding Radars|journal=Jane's International Defence Review|date=March 2012|pages=37}}
In June 2013 the United States Army exercised a contract option to finish out the total production of 51 systems.{{Cite web|url=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/843m-adds-12-eq-36-radars-asap-05006/|title=TPQ-53 Counterfire Radars: Incoming Where?|website=Defense Industry Daily}} After a contract award 24 April 2017 has completed production, the Army will hold more than 170 such systems.{{Cite web|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/protecting-the-soldier-us-army-orders-more-q-53-counterfire-radars-from-lockheed-martin-300444049.html|title=Protecting the Soldier: U.S. Army Orders More Q-53 Counterfire Radars from Lockheed Martin|last=Lockheed Martin|website=www.prnewswire.com}} In April 2020 the first GaN based AN/TPQ-53 was delivered to the U.S. Army{{cite web |url=https://news.lockheedmartin.com/first-q-53-radar-equipped-with-gallium-nitride-delivered-us-army |title=First Q-53 Radar Equipped with Gallium Nitride Delivered to U.S. Army |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200506160723/https://news.lockheedmartin.com/first-q-53-radar-equipped-with-gallium-nitride-delivered-us-army |archive-date=2020-05-06 |url-status=live}}
After Russian-backed separatists started operating tanks in Eastern Ukraine, the U.S. started sending military items to Ukraine, including 20 AN/TPQ-53 radar systems in 2015. As a result, Ukraine's units thus equipped had casualty rates decline from 47 percent to around 18 percent. Ukrainian combat expertise with the system led to their providing training to U.S. forces.[https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2019/09/25/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-us-aid-package-to-ukraine-that-trump-delayed/ "Here’s what you need to know about the US aid package to Ukraine that Trump delayed,"] September 25, 2019, Defense News, retrieved February 7, 2022
See also
Notes
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External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090713030057/http://frontierindia.net/us-army-receives-first-eq-36-counterfire-target-acquisition-radar-system (7 July 2009) U.S. Army Receives First EQ-36 Counterfire Target Acquisition Radar System] US Army acquisition
{{Raytheon}}
Category:Military radars of the United States
Category:Raytheon Company products
Category:Weapon locating radar