SubscribeSeveral examples of the AN/MPQ-64/F1 Improved Sentinel surveillance radar are in the process of being fielded by the US Army and are en-route to tactical units, according to ThalesRaytheonSystems (TRS) of Fullerton California.
The first Improved Sentinel was fielded by the US Army's Air Defence Artillery School at Fort Bliss, Texas, in April 2006, and another has since been put into operation at the Field Artillery Centre at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
The fielding signifies a major step forward in the US Army's plans to implement its Sentinel P3I (pre-planned product improvement) programme. TRS currently has contracts for 62 upgrades awarded by the US Army in 2003 and 2004 (worth some USD65 million) as part of its plan to modernise the entire Sentinel inventory - in excess of 140 fielded radars.
The US Army is currently fielding the first examples of its modernised AN/MPQ-64/F1 Improved Sentinel air-defence radar system
The Sentinel has been deployed in Afghanistan since 2002 and in Iraq since 2003, where it provides situational awareness and air pictures to the commanders in the field.
According to TRS, there are some 200 Sentinels in service worldwide, including in Europe and the Middle East, where some serious interest in the Improved Sentinel has been seen.
The AN/MPQ-64 is a highly mobile, X-band, phased-array, three-dimensional acquisition and tracking radar.
With a 360° sweep and elevation from -10° to +55°, it can automatically detect, track, identify, classify and report in excess of 60 simultaneous airborne threats, including helicopters, high-speed combat aircraft, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The Hardware Modifications for the Improved Sentinel include a new transmitter (increasing the current 75 km range); an advanced exciter (for better target detection in clutter); a new antenna motor (to improve antenna sweep speeds, presently 30rpm); and an advanced high-speed processor (which has room for future growth). In addition, there are software changes and improvements to support the hardware changes.
According to TRS, the modernised radar offers benefits such as increased detection and acquisition ranges, and better detection of small targets (including cruise missiles and UAVs) in both clear and cluttered environments.
Reproduced with permission from Jane's Information Group - Jane's International Defence Review
Article written by Michael J. Gething
Michael J. Gething has worked for the Jane's Information Group since December 1993. He has been Editor of the Jane's Electro-Optic Systems yearbook and Upgrades Editor for Jane's International Defence Review magazine since June 2003. Prior to that, he had edited Jane's Defence Systems Modernisation, which became Jane's Defence Upgrades. In addition, he compiles the military segment of Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide.
Gething began his career with the UK's Royal Aeronautical Society as Assistant Editor of the magazine Aerospace in 1973, moving to DEFENCE magazine in 1976, where he worked for 17 years, eight of them as Editor. He has authored several books, including Sky Guardians - the Air Defence of Great Britain and Air Power 2000 (both for Arms & Armour Press). He has also contributed to many aerospace/defence journals over the years.
Gething is an Associate Member of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Journalists. He was also commissioned in the Training Branch of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 1972-86. He lives in sleepy Sussex and, when he can snatch the time, still likes building scale model aircraft.
