Raytheon Company,
FULLERTON, Ca: Thales Raytheon Systems has been awarded a $217 million U.S. Army firm-fixed-price contract to provide production modification kits and power amplifier modules as part of the Reliability Maintainability Improvement program for the AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder weapon locating radar.
This contract follows the April 2008 initial production award. Combined, the AN/TPQ-37 RMI production contracts total more than $285 million.
The Firefinder RMI program addresses needs specifically identified by the user and integrates new technology that protects the warfighter from today's increasingly sophisticated threats. The program enhancements include a modular, air-cooled transmitter and new common radar processors that will be applied to the Army's entire fleet of AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar systems as well as to the fleet of agile AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder radars.
These upgrades will significantly reduce lifecycle costs and provide higher system availability, extending the expected life of the radar to year 2030. The RMI program could potentially save the U.S. Army more than $5 billion.
The AN/TPQ-37 is the world's premier long-range weapon locating radar, deployed worldwide by the U.S. Army and 11 international customers. It locates the position of hostile artillery, rockets and mortars so friendly forces can quickly and accurately return fire.
“This contract award underscores the Army's confidence in the AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder and its value to Army warfighters,” said Kim Kerry, chief executive officer of Thales Raytheon Systems, U.S. operations. “Thales Raytheon Systems is proud to provide the Army and our allies with an innovative solution that will further extend the radars life and availability.”
Thales Raytheon Systems will procure, build, integrate and test upgrade kits for the AN/TPQ-37 radar, which will then be delivered to and installed by the U.S. Army Depot at Tobyhanna, Pa., as part of a planned upgrade program for AN/TPQ-37 radars in the U.S. Army's fleet.
Thales Raytheon Systems is an equally owned transatlantic joint venture between Raytheon Company and Thales Group. Thales Raytheon Systems is a worldwide supplier of air defense command and control systems, including sensors and ground-based battlefield radars. The company's annual revenue is in excess of $800 million U.S., and it employs more than 1,600 people.
