The lightweight, highly mobile and affordable AN/TPQ-46B radar is the U.S. Marine Corps' version of the U.S. ArmyAN/TPQ-36(V)10 radar. The radars are equipped with a reliable andpowerful (V)10 radar processor built by ThalesRaytheonSystems and arecurrently in high-rate production for the U.S. Army.
"There is nothing more critical than the ability to target andcounter threats on the battlefield," said Kim Kerry, chief executiveofficer of ThalesRaytheonSystems, U.S. Operations. "This technology isvital for the Marine Corps' tactical capabilities as the forcecontinues to grow."
These additional radar systems will bring the total U.S. MarineCorps' inventory to almost 50 systems, supporting the recent force sizebuild-up from 175,000 to 202,000 Marines. More than 250 AN/TPQ-36radars are currently in use by the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and 14foreign countries worldwide.
The AN/TPQ-46B radar accurately, rapidly and automatically locatesshort- and medium-range enemy mortars, artillery and rocket launchers,allowing friendly forces to return fire.
Work under the Marine Corps' radar contract is being performed atRaytheon's Forest, Miss., production facility through October 2010 andincludes ten spare antenna arrays for the U.S. Army.
Formed eight years ago, ThalesRaytheonSystems is an international company specializing in air defense systems, command and controlsystems, 3D air defense radars, battlefield and counter-battery radars.The company employs 1,600 people and is equally owned by Raytheon andThales.
