Latvia signed a contract with Lockheed Martin [LMT] for three TPS-77 Multi-Role Radars (MRR), the company said Monday.
The MMR is designed to have “ultra-low power consumption” and is a transportable version of Lockheed Martin’s TPS-77 radar product for use in air surveillance and to complement radar assets previously in place. Under the contract, the radar will be truck mounted for operation at unprepared sites and can be dismounted for fixed site usage, the company said.
The TPS-77 has multi-role single scan technology that lets operators select specific roles for radar including long range or medium range low-flight level surveillance in specific sectors. This includes helicopter detection, Lockheed Martin said. As the radar rotates through a 360-degree scan, the system automatically adjusts to the operator selected mission.
“Purchase of TPS-77 MRRs will mean a huge investment in the strengthening of defense capabilities of National Armed Forces and gives us the chance to act accordingly to modern threats facing all NATO countries,” Latvia Minister of Defence Raimonds Bergmanis said in a statement.
“Early warning and situational awareness is a very important condition in the decision making process for an efficient response,” Latvia Chief of Defense Lt. Gen. Raimonds Graube added.
Lockheed Martin officials emphasize how the contract continues a years-long partnership between the company and Latvia.
“This multi-role radar program builds upon a 15-year partnership of radar development and training between Latvia and Lockheed Martin. We look forward to building upon that history and continuing to support Latvia in achieving its missions,” Greg Larioni, vice president of Lockheed Martin Radar Surveillance Systems, said in a statement.
Lockheed Martin highlighted the TPS-77 MRR is designed with Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, which allows the radar’s high power amplifiers to consume less power. This increases reliability, lowers life-cycle costs, and extends the useful life of the radar system, the company said.
Larioni noted the radar’s technology is backward compatible with globally fielded systems. “We always provide a low risk, proven path forward for our customer’s deployed systems,” he said.
Lockheed Martin will continue engaging with local Latvian industry for procurement and production of the MRR program. “These relationships will form the basis for long-term local maintenance and support of the new systems after delivery,” the company said.
The TPS-77 is built, assembled, and tested in Syracuse, N.Y.
There were already three TPS-77 radars in Latvia, positioned at Čalas, Lielvārde, and Audriņi. A modernization program is currently underway to upgrade one of them.