WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has placed a $120 million order for five radars that can track down the source of artillery, rockets and other so-called indirect fire.
Lockheed Martin will provide the EQ-36 Counterfire Target Acquisition Radar units within 36 months.
The defense major noted that the contract was a gateway to a potential contract for 180 EQ-36 sets worth more than $1.6 billion.
"We are delighted to have this opportunity to significantly upgrade the Army's counterfire target acquisition capability," said Lockheed Vice President Carl Bannar. "We will provide today's highly mobile brigade combat teams with a solid-state EQ-36 system that is rugged, adaptable, reliable and easy to upgrade."
Planning for future brigade operations sees the quick elimination of sources of defensive fire that might slow down the mobile blitzkrieg.
The EQ-36, which is produced by Lockheed and Syracuse Research, will replace the TPQ-36 and TPQ-37 radars.
The system has a digital signal processor that will enable the radar to zero in on the source of indirect fire, including mortar rounds, so that counterfire or air strikes can be called in to neutralize the threat. The system has a longer range than current radar and can cover a 360-degree field.
