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| Lockheed
Martin [NYSE:LMT] has delivered an AN/TPS-59(V)3B ballistic
missile defense radar system to the Kingdom of Bahrain. The
radar proceeded smoothly through a site acceptance test in August
and now is being used by the Bahrain Defence Force for air surveillance.
The new radar will provide vital early warning on missile attacks.
However, since Bahrain does not yet possess 'hard kill' missile
defenses it will have to rely on foreign missiles, such as US
Patriot missile defense
systems to provide a complete missile defense solution for
the island state.
The program was launched in May 2004, as the U.S.
Marine Corps awarded Lockheed Martin a $43.6 million contract
to produce the long-range radar system as part of a foreign
military sale (FMS) program.
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According
to Lockheed Martin, AN/TPS-59(V)3 is the only 360-degree coverage
mobile radar in the world certified to detect tactical ballistic
missiles. It can precisely predict missile launch and impact
points, and cue defensive weapons against incoming threats.
The radar can detect both single and multiple targets, and detect
and track small air breathing targets such as aircraft. It is
designed to operate with weapons systems such as the Patriot
and Aegis missile defense systems.
The all-solid state AN/TPS-59(V)3 can be integrated with other
sensors for improved launch and impact point prediction, extended
range capabilities, cooperative engagement and joint tactical
information distribution. The radar has a range of 740-kilometer
(more than 400-mile) exceeding the range of 90 percent of the
tactical ballistic missiles in the world today. Its mobility
allows it to be forward-based to further extend the range of
the system.
16 AN/TPS-59(V)3 radars were built since its introduction in
the 1980s. They were continuously upgraded to maintain their
operational readiness and capability in the 2000s. These radars
continue to operate in theaters around the world, including
support for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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