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AN/TPQ-36(V) American Towed Firefinder Radar

AN/TPQ-36

Tripod-Mounted Man-Portable Recoilless Gun
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Basic Information
Name
AN/TPQ-36(V) American Towed Firefinder Radar
Designation
AN/TPQ-36
Alternate Designation
AN/TPQ-36; AN/TPQ-36(V)
Equipment Type
Tripod-Mounted Man-Portable Recoilless Gun
Manufacturer
Hughes Aircraft Company
Date of Introduction
1982
Description

Hughes AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder weapon locating system is a mobile radar system developed in the mid-late 1970s by Hughes Aircraft Company and manufactured by Northrop Grumman and ThalesRaytheonSystems, achieving initial operational capability in May, 1982. The system is a "weapon-locating radar", designed to detect and track incoming mortar, artillery and rocket fire to determine the point of origin for counter battery fire. It is currently in service at battalion and higher levels in the United States Army, United States Marine Corps and Australian Army. Also Turkish Army , Portugal and Ukrainian Army are among the users. The radar is typically trailer-mounted and towed by a Humvee. The AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder Radar is a lightweight, small, highly mobile radar set capable of detecting weapon projectiles launched at any angle within selected 90-degree azimuth sectors over 360 degrees of coverage. The AN/TPQ-36 can locate simultaneous and volley-fire weapons. It can also be used to register and adjust friendly fire. Upon projectile detection, the weapon location is computed and is used to direct counter-battery fires. The system consists of an operational control group, OK-398/TPQ-36, and an antenna transceiver group, OY-71/TPQ-36. It is used by the artillery battalions to provide an effective capability to locate hostile weapons, both mortars and short- to medium-range weapons. The Marine Corps will be receiving a Version 8 configuration, currently involving Toby Hanna Army Depot & Grumman Electronics Programs. This new configuration consists of a new Operations Control Group (OCG) using the Army Lightweight Multipurpose Shelter (LMS) mounted on a M1097 HMMWV. This HMMWV tows the Antenna Transceiver Group (ATG) with the integrated Modular Azimuth Positioning System (MAPS) mounted on the M116A2E1 trailer. The OCG is controlled by an operator either located within the shelter or remotely located. The second M1097 HMMWV will carry the MEP112A generator mounted on an M116A2E1 trailer. An additional reconnaissance vehicle/crew carrier, a fourth HMMWV, will be added to the Marine Corps Table of Equipment.

Ground Specifications
Mobility Type Towed
Range 24.0 km
Variants
AN/TPQ-46 Alongside the baseline AN/TPQ-36(V), the US Marine Corps (USMC) operates a service specific variant that is designated as the AN/TPQ-46. Here, the US Armyʼs two element configuration is replaced by a four HMMWV/trailer application. Subsequent to its initial fielding, the service has commissioned the AN/TPQ-46A and -46B upgrades. Here, AN/TPQ-46A is understood to have been based on the AN/TPQ-36(V)8 configuration and is believed to have updated the architectureʼs operating shelter and electronics, enhanced its target detection, survivability and interoperability capabilities and reduced its maintenance and logistics requirements. For its part, AN/TPQ-46B mirrors the AN/TPQ-36(V)10 radar and feature that sensorʼs upgraded processor. Here, the update reduced the circuit board count from nine to three and is claimed to have provided ‘unlimited future growth potentialʼ.
System
Alternative Designation AN/TPQ-36; AN/TPQ-36(V)
Type Towed Firefinder Radar
Manufacturers Northrop Grumman manufactures the AN/TPQ-36(V)8 Firefinder radar. Before acquisition by Raytheon, the Hughes Aircraft Co. developed the AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder radar at its Fullerton, California facility, and manufactured it at its Forest, Mississippi plant.
Crew INA
Upgarde Firefinder (V)7 adds a modular azimuth position system (MAPS). MAPS has a north seeking laser gyrocompass and a microprocessor controlled Honeywell H-726 inertial navigation system. Prior Firefinders used a survey team to find site latitude, longitude, and direction to North. With MAPS, reaction time was limited only by site set-up, since system geo-position was pre-loaded before sortie deployment. Crew was reduced from 8 to 6. Firefinder (V)8 extends system performance, improves operator survivability and lowers life cycle cost. Greater processing power and the addition of a low noise amplifier to the radar antenna improves detection range (by up to 50%) and performance accuracy against certain threats.
Frequency 8 GHz to 12.5 GHz (32 sub-frequencies)
Coverage, Range 8 n miles (14.5 km; 9 miles) (artillery, effective range); 10 n miles (18 km; 11 miles) (mortar, effective range); 13 n miles (24 km; 15 miles) (rockets, effective range)
Coverage, Azimuth 90° (sector) 360°
Coverage, Target Capacity 10
Coverage, Track Capacity 99
Displacement Time 5 min
Power, Volt 115 V (400 Hz, AC, three phase, supply);120 V (400 Hz, AC, three phase, supply)
Emplacement Time 15 min
Power, Watt 23 kW (transmit, peak); 10 kW (AN/MJQ-25 generator, nominal, supply)
Antenna Type Phased Array
Transmitter TWT
Note The AN/TPQ-36(V) consists of the following: *a trailer-mounted antenna-transceiver assembly; *a power generator, and ; *an operator shelter that houses the necessary processing equipment.
System Dimensions
Length 4,600 mm
Width 2,100 mm
Height, in Operation 3,700 mm
Height, in Transit 2,100 mm
Weight, Combat 1,451 kg
Operations Shelter
Length 2,692 mm
Width 2,100 mm
Height 1,800 mm
Weight 1,089 kg
AN/MJQ-25 Generator with Trailer
Length 4,350 mm
Width 2,080 mm
Height 2,490 mm
Weight INA
Details
Country of Origin United States
Category Radars
Land > Radars
Filter Label
A
Classification
Domain
Ground
Equipment Status
Active
Dimensions
Length
4.6 m
Width
2.1 m
Height
3.7 m
Weight
1451 kg
Documents & Files (3)
AN1e4a.TPQ36_Firefinder(C)
59.79 KB
AN.TPQ-36_Firefinder(C).jpg
TRADOC ODIN WEG
AN7218.TPQ36_Firefinder(B)
235.46 KB
AN.TPQ-36_Firefinder(B).jpg
TRADOC ODIN WEG
AN4859.TPQ36_Firefinder(A)
66.81 KB
AN.TPQ-36_Firefinder(A).jpg
TRADOC ODIN WEG
Operators (20)
United States
United Kingdom
Ukraine
Turkey
Pakistan
Spain
Australia
Canada
Egypt
Greece
Iraq
Jordan
Kuwait
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Thailand
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