FULLERTON, Calif., Aug. 30, 2012.ThalesRaytheonSystems, a transatlantic joint venture that specializes in air operation command and control systems, surveillance radars, and ground-based weapon-locating radars, has been awarded a $44.9 million contract by the U.S. Army to upgrade the Receiver Exciter (REX) in the Improved AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar. The enhanced REX is part of the U.S. Army's program to improve the AN/TPQ-37's performance, maintainability and reliability, while extending the service life of these long-range counter-battery systems.
REX Modification Kits and spares are scheduled to be delivered to the U.S. Army in mid-2013. The REX unit performs two radar functions: It produces the signal transmitted from the radar antenna and conditions the received signal for processing within the radar's computer system. The improvements and enhancements made by the REX make the Improved AN/TPQ-37 an essentially new system, while retaining its vast history and credentials.
The REX upgrade for the Improved AN/TPQ-37 is available as a field or depot retrofit, or in new production radars. The Improved AN/TPQ-37 is one of the only U.S. designed and built radars currently available for export to nations around the world.
The Improved AN/TPQ-37 is a long-range weapon locating radar. Improved Firefinders have been deployed in Iraq and continue to be deployed with U.S. forces in Afghanistan. In total, more than 380 Firefinder radars (AN/TPQ-37 and AN/TPQ-36) have been delivered to the U.S. Army and 11 international customers. Firefinder radars locate the position of hostile artillery, rockets and mortars accurately so that friendly forces can return precision fire.
