US DoD awards Raytheon $48Mn contract to upgrade sentinel A3 radar systems.

On December 29, 2023, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) announced the awarding of a $48.1 million contract to Raytheon Technologies Corp. for the enhancement of the AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel A3 radar systems. This contract, granted by the U.S. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, marks a significant milestone in bolstering the United States' air surveillance and fire control capabilities.
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 Raytheon AN/MPQ-64 A3 Enhanced Sentinel Radar System  (Picture source: U.S. DoD) 

The contract primarily aims to improve defense against a variety of airborne threats, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), cruise missiles, fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters. The enhanced Sentinel radar system, with its 360-degree X-Band phased array capable of detecting targets up to 46 miles away, is central to this upgrade. Advanced features of the system, such as electronic countermeasures, a Mode 5 identification friend or foe subsystem, and non-cooperative target recognition, play a key role in accurately identifying threatening aircraft.

The AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel is a 3D radar used to alert and queue Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) weapons to the locations of hostile targets approaching frontline forces. Deployed with forward area air defense units of the U.S. Army, it is an X-band range-gated, pulse-Doppler radar system. The antenna utilizes phase-frequency electronic scanning technology, creating sharp 3D pencil beams over a large surveillance and track volume. The radar automatically acquires, tracks, classifies, identifies, and reports targets, including cruise missiles, UAVs, and both rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. It operates with a high scan rate (30 RPM) and has a range of 40 km (25 miles), designed to be highly resistant to electronic countermeasures (ECM). Mounted on a towed platform, it can be positioned remotely from the rest of the unit, operate autonomously, and communicate with the Fire Distribution Center (FDC) via a wideband fiber-optic link. It can also distribute its data over a SINCGARS radio network.

Beyond its power, the Sentinel A3 radar system is distinguished by its mobility and integration. Designed to be mounted on a trailer and towed by an M1082 truck, the system can be rapidly deployed as operational needs dictate. Its seamless integration with systems such as the IAMD, the FAAD-C2I, and the National Capital Region's air defense command and control system, make it essential for integrated defense operations.

Recent enhancements to the Sentinel radar include the adoption of AESA technology, a modernized radar control terminal, increased integration with the Ethernet network for IAMD, and updated processor cards. These advancements not only improve the system's performance but also reduce the risks of fratricide.

Raytheon Technologies Corp. is expected to complete these enhancements by December 2027, significantly bolstering the United States' air defense capabilities. This contract marks an important step in the ongoing evolution of national defense systems, highlighting the U.S. military's commitment to technological innovation and national security.