Army orders more counter-fire target radars

The U.S. Army has ordered additional counter-fire target acquisition radars from Lockheed Martin to track incoming enemy fire.

The order is for seven AN/TPQ-53 (Q-53) systems and is valued at $85 million.

The Q-53, which provides 360-degree coverage, is a mobile active electronically scanned array counter-battery radar system mounted on a five-ton truck that can be remotely operated with a laptop computer or from the command vehicle to trace the origin of mortars, rockets or artillery.

"Soldiers can rapidly deploy the truck-mounted Q-53 and quickly determine the source of enemy fire," said Bob Stelmack, Q-53 program manager for Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training. "The 55 systems Lockheed Martin has delivered to the U.S. Army give troops proven, advanced protection when they need it most."

Since Lockheed Martin won the development contract for the Q-53 radar in 2007 and has received low-rate initial production orders for 97 systems, of which 55 have been delivered. A full-rate production contract is expected by early 2016 for as many as 77 additional systems.