Counterfire Radars

Counterfire Radars is a part of the Army Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF) Modernization Priority. The program aims to support the procurement of systems, gallium arsenide (GaAs) to gallium nitride (GaN) retrofit, and signal data processors. It also supports the procurement of modifications including engineering changes to address obsolescence, depot facilitization, software maintenance, cybersecurity and interoperability compliance, and training. The specific objective is to mitigate close combat radar coverage gaps by providing a 90-degree search sector (stare mode) as well as 360-degree coverage (rotating), in addition to supporting legacy radars. The program also aims to provide data to the Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAAD C2) node for the sense and warn force protection capability.

The AN/TPQ-53 Counterfire Target Acquisition Radar System is a highly mobile radar set that automatically detects, classifies, tracks, and locates the point of origin of projectiles fired from mortar, artillery, and rocket systems with sufficient accuracy. The program's goal is to enhance the maneuver commander's counterfire radar flexibility by interoperating with mission command systems. Additionally, it aims to provide support for contingency operations such as Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) and fielding to Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs), Field Artillery Brigades (FABs), Division Artilleries (DIVARTYs), and Army National Guard Division Artilleries (ARNG DIVARTYs). The program also focuses on developing Distributed Digital Receiver Exciter (DDREX) technology to address obsolescence and improve survivability in electronically contested environments. This includes engineering development, design, prototyping, subsystem integration, and survivability software development. The program plans to begin retrofitting and re-fielding systems with DDREX modification kits starting in FY 2027.