The Army’s Intelligence and Information Warfare Directorate has awarded a $9 million, 32-month contract to SRC Inc., formerly Syracuse Research Corporation, for the development of an Omni-Directional Weapon Location (OWL) radar system.

Under the contract, SRC will develop the OWL system design, and produce a technology demonstrator prototype to be evaluated in 2013.

“We are extremely proud of this contract award for OWL, as it is further evidence of our leadership in radar development. The innovative design and technological advances of the OWL system will provide an impressive capability for the Army,” said Paul Tremont, president of SRC.

The OWL radar will be a state-of-the-art, yet affordable, weapon location radar system, providing the Army with the ability to detect, track and locate mortar, cannon and rocket firing positions with unprecedented accuracy over a wide variety of threat trajectories, the company said in an Oct. 19 statement.

OWL is a multi-mission-capable system that provides surveillance over a hemispherical coverage area.

SRC is known for its high-tech development capabilities and is a leader in rapid prototyping of advanced electronic systems. Its Lightweight Counter-Mortar Radar was named an Army Top Ten Greatest Inventions. Additionally, SRC has successfully developed and tested other cutting-edge systems, including the Army’s enhanced Multi-Mission Radar, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s FORESTER foliage penetration radar, and the Army’s Advanced Ground Electronic Warfare System.