• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

AN/TPQ-50 LCMR Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar

The TPQ-50 is the official Army program of record, while the TPQ-49 is designed for expeditionary forces. The AN/TPQ-50 wasa initialy been referred to as LCMR (V)3. The AN/TPQ-50 represents the third iteration of LCMR technology, initially delivered to the 101st Airborne Division in 2012.

The AN/TPQ-50 LCMR program of record, which emerged out of a quick reaction capability [QRC] effort to quickly deploy radar able to protect forward-deployed forces on the move, has greater range capabilities and is more accurate than previous models of the technology, the AN/TPQ-48 and AN/TPQ-49 LCMRs. The SRCTec LCMR family consists of the AN/TPQ-49 and AN/TPQ-50. QRCs represent efforts to quickly get capability-enhancing technology to theater while simultaneously harvesting Soldier input and refining requirements for a traditional program of record.

It is designed so that it can mount multiple versions of the HMMWV or be mounted on a tripod. The AN/TPQ-50 radar is effective out to a range of greater than 10 kilometers and a minimum range of 500 meters against rockets, artillery and mortar fire.

The AN/TPQ-50 counterfire radar provides continuous 360 degree surveillance and 3-D rocket, artillery and mortar (RAM) location using a non-rotating, electronically steered antenna. When compared to its expeditionary predecessor, it detects targets with flatter trajectories while calculating the point of origin more accurately from a greater distance. Its full azimuth coverage allows it to simultaneously detect and track multiple rounds fired from separate locations within a 315 square kilometer surveillance area. The radar can also be configured to scan less than 360 degrees, providing focused sector coverage with more frequent update rates.

One of the major differences between AN/TPQ-50, and earlier versions is the accuracy of ‘point of origin.’ Earlier versions — (V)2 and earlier — had in the neighborhood of 100-meter location accuracy, which — for situational awareness and understanding — is good. But in terms of being sufficient to go after with an indirect-fire system — for example, a cannon — it was probably on the edge of whether or not to respond with indirect fire because of that error in detection capability. One of the requirements with the Q-50 is to improve that ‘point of location’ accuracy to where it is ‘counter-fire quality.

Once RAM or improvised munitions are detected, the radar sends an early warning message indicating a round is incoming. It then gathers enough data to accurately locate the point of origin to within 50 meters from more than 10 kilometers away. This information is reported back to an integrated command and control station or short range air defense system for a counterfire response.

At 500 pounds and 3.6 feet in diameter, the AN/TPQ-50 is designed to be mobile, lightweight and rapidly deployable in support of early entry operations; it can be powered up by a 5-kilowatt generator or draw power from a Humvee. The cylinder-like radar structure electronically steers electromagnetic pulses across a 360-degree protective envelope.

The AN/TPQ-50 is engineered to work in tandem with and complement the longer-range, truck-mounted AN/TPQ-53 radar by filling potential holes in its coverage areas.