NEWTOWN: The U.S. Air Force awarded two contracts worth a total $46.8 million to provide engineering and design support to the government during the technology development phase of the Three Dimensional Long Range Radar Program.
One contract (FA8722-09-C-0003) was awarded to Lockheed Martin of Liverpool, N.Y., and is worth a total of $24.85 million. At this time, $9.9 million has been obligated. The other contract (FA8722-09-C-0001) was awarded to Sensis Corp., of East Syracuse, N.Y., and is worth a total of $21.9 million. At this time, $9.9 million has been obligated.
According to Fiscal Year 2010 U.S. Department of Defense budget documents, the Three Dimensional Long Range Radar Program, also referred to as the 3D Expeditionary Long Range Radar (3DELRR), is a replacement for the AN/TPS-75 radars currently in service with the Air Force.
3DELRR will be the principal USAF long-range, ground-based sensor for detecting, identifying, tracking, and reporting aircraft and missiles. The primary mission of the 3DELRR will be to provide long-range surveillance, control of aircraft, theater ballistic missile detection and Combat Identification (CID).
Efforts that will be included in the technology development (TD) contracts awarded include system requirements analysis, modeling and simulation, risk reduction, acquisition planning, capability demonstrations, preliminary design development, software and hardware component-level development, test and evaluation, and program protection planning.
The TD phase will also produce the 3DELRR operational and technical requirements baseline and one or more preliminary system designs. Capability Demonstrations will verify that all component technologies meet Defense Department readiness requirements and technical reviews will appraise the design approach and verify it responds to the requirements baseline. Following the TD phase, emphasis will then shift toward system-level development and risk reduction work leading to a single, mature system design. Activities also include studies and analysis to support both current program planning and execution and future program planning.
