Upgraded AN/TPQ-36 Radar Achieves IOC with Australian Army / Weapon Locating Radar Upgrade Project Achieves Key Milestone

(Source: Australian Department of Defence; issued June 25, 2009)
Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, today announced that the project to upgrade Army’s Weapon Locating Radar has now achieved initial operational capability. “The Australian AN/TPQ-36 Weapon Locating Radar capability provides the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with the ability to locate enemy mortars, guns and rockets, enabling early warning for ground forces,” said Mr Combet. “The radar operates by using technology to identify the firing paths of enemy shells and rockets and from this data determine the enemy firing points, with up to ten locations able to be determined simultaneously.” The AN/TPQ-36 has previously been operationally deployed by the ADF in Iraq. With the delivery of four of the seven upgraded Weapon Locating Radars, from the prime contractor Raytheon, initial operational capability has now been achieved. Initial operational capability is achieved when the first subset of a capability system is proven suitable and effective for operational employment. “I am pleased to see that this project is performing on schedule and on budget and is due to achieve its full operational capability by March 2010.” “This capability is necessary to provide the ADF the support they need in detecting incoming enemy fire,” said Mr Combet. The achievement of the key operational capability milestone for the first four upgraded systems was marked by a ceremony today at 20th Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment at Enoggera Barracks in Brisbane. The Weapon Locating Radars are being upgraded under Project Land 58 Phase 3 to extend their service life to 2015.