Thai Air Force Takes the Long View with New Radar

When the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) activated its new TPS-77 radar recently, it greatly expanded the Thailand’s long-range air surveillance network capability.  In particular, the radar helps provide greater air sovereignty, security and safety over much of the Gulf of Thailand.

With this direct commercial sale and installation now successfully completed, Thailand became the owner of the 34th Lockheed Martin long-range radar operational in the Asia Pacific region. Thailand joins countries such as Korea, Taiwan and Australia, who have relied on Lockheed Martin’s family of 3-D, solid-state, L-band surveillance radars for decades.

More countries are recognizing the need to enhance their air surveillance with modern, cost-effective radar systems.  In February, Lockheed Martin and Indonesian technology firm PT CMI Teknologi signed a teaming agreement to pursue the National Airspace Surveillance – Republic of Indonesia (NASRI) program, a new network of radar systems that will improve airspace surveillance, safety and management over the Indonesian Archipelago.

Lockheed Martin ground-based air surveillance radars are the choice of more than 30 nations on six continents.  Today, 178 Lockheed Martin long-range systems operate around the world—more than all other competitive radars combined.

Lockheed Martin’s TPS-59, TPS-77 and FPS-117 family of radars are high-performing, reliable, solid state systems specializing in early warning, situational awareness, and ballistic and tactical missile surveillance and defense.

Commonality in supporting and sustaining a fleet of 178 long-range radars operational around the world allows for leveraging signal and data processing upgrades to continually modernize systems and provide significant lifecycle cost savings.

The TPS-77 is the latest configuration of the world’s most successful 3-D solid-state radar design. This transportable radar provides continuous high-quality 3-D surveillance on aircraft targets at ranges out to 250 nautical miles. The TPS-77 shares commonality with Lockheed Martin’s FPS-117 radar with regard to maintenance activity and Line Replaceable Units. Many have performed for years completely unmanned in remote areas, and in a wide range of operational environments.

Source : Lockheed Martin Corporation