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Hughes AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder Weapon Locating System[1] is a mobile radar system developed in the late 1970s by Hughes Aircraft Company, achieving Initial Operational Capability in 1980 and full deployment in 1984. Currently manufactured by ThalesRaytheonSystems, the system is a long-range version of "weapon-locating radar", designed to detect and track incoming artillery and rocket fire to determine the point of origin for counter-battery fire. It is currently in service at brigade and higher levels in the United States Army and by other countries. The radar is trailer-mounted and towed by a 2+1⁄3-short-ton (2,100 kg) truck. A typical AN/TPQ-37 system consists of the Antenna-Transceiver Group, Command Shelter and 60 kW Generator.
The AN/TPQ-37 is an electronically steered radar, meaning the radar does not actually move while in operation. The radar scans a 90-degree sector for incoming rocket, artillery and mortar fire. Upon detecting a possible incoming round, the system verifies the contact before initiating a track sequence, continuing to search for new targets. The incoming round/rocket is tracked during its initial upward/launch trajectory (i.e., the linear portion of its flight path) prior to reaching apogee. A computer program analyzes the track data and then extrapolates the round's point of origin. This calculated point of origin is then reported to the operator with map coordinates, thus allowing friendly artillery to direct counter-battery fire towards the enemy artillery. The system has a reported range of up to 31 miles (50 km). The system may also be operated in a friendly fire mode to determine the accuracy of counterbattery return fire.
Capabilities
Specifications
Features
Before acquisition by Raytheon, the Hughes Aircraft Co. developed the AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar at its facility in Fullerton, California, and manufactures it at its plant in Forest, Mississippi.
ROCS for AN/TPQ-36 and AN/TPQ-37
The 'radar operational control system upgrade' is manufactured by BES Electronic Systems Ltd in Israel
Per the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS),[2] the nomenclature AN/TPQ-37 is thus derived:
