DOD IG auditing Air Force 3DELRR program

The Defense Department inspector general will audit the Air Force's Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar Program beginning this month, the IG's office announced Friday.

The IG will look at whether the service is using the middle tier acquisition pathways effectively for the development and fielding of the 3DELRR program, according to the notice.

The Air Force began seeking contractors in 2007 for 3DELRR, which is intended to replace the legacy AN/TPS-75 early warning radar. Eventually, Raytheon received a contract in 2014, but protests from Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin put a three-year pause on the program that culminated in a new contract to Raytheon in 2017.

In 2020, the Air Force canceled the Raytheon contract because of “numerous technical and supplier challenges.”

Last year, Lockheed and Northrop received integration contracts worth $8.5 million and $4 million, respectively.