Sunday, June 15, 2025
Sunday, June 15, 2025
The Air Force will soon begin developmental testing of Lockheed Martin’s Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar following delivery of the first system, according to a company news release issued today.
“The successful completion of early phase testing and delivery of the first TPY-4 radar system underscores our dedication to providing the U.S. Air Force with cutting-edge, high-performance systems that meet their evolving requirements and expectations," Rick Cordaro, vice president of Lockheed’s radar and sensor systems, said in a statement. "The 3DELRR program is of the utmost importance to air surveillance and defense capabilities worldwide, as well as defending the nation."
3DELRR, the service’s new long-range, ground-based sensor, is meant to replace the 1970s-era Northrop Grumman AN/TPS-75 radar. The new system can tap into a mobile command and control center the Air Force may deploy in theater to track or detect aerial targets, like aircraft or ballistic missiles.
Each new radar system includes the TPY-4 sensor, a pair of Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks, one trailer and four micro-grid generators.
The Air Force in 2020 canceled an original contract with RTX subsidiary Raytheon to develop 3DELRR due to numerous technical and supplier challenges. Lockheed was then awarded a new deal to produce the radar system in 2022.
The Air Force previously said initial operational capability for six radars would be achieved in fiscal year 2024, but fielding the system has proven more difficult amid testing and production hurdles.
An FY-24 report released Jan. 31 from the Pentagon’s chief weapons tester indicated that formal government-led developmental testing paused last year because of “system deficiencies and transitioned to a risk-reduction event after one of four planned weeks of testing.”
The problems discovered included operational effectiveness and 3DELRR suitability, the report stated.
To allow Lockheed time to troubleshoot those issues, the Air Force pushed developmental testing back one year from the second quarter of FY-24 to the second quarter of FY-25, according to the Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation.
The projected timeline for 3DELRR Initial Operational Test and Evaluation has also slid, the report notes, from the third quarter of FY-25 to the first quarter of FY-26.