THE HON. GREG COMBET MP
Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science
Thursday, 25 June 2009
005/2009
WEAPON LOCATING RADAR UPGRADE PROJECT
ACHIEVES KEY MILESTONE
Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, today
announced that the project to upgrade Army’s Weapon Locating Radar has
now achieved initial operational capability.
“The Australian AN/TPQ-36 Weapon Locating Radar capability provides the
Australian Defence Force (ADF) with the ability to locate enemy mortars, guns
and rockets, enabling early warning for ground forces,” said Mr Combet.
“The radar operates by using technology to identify the firing paths of enemy
shells and rockets and from this data determine the enemy firing points, with
up to ten locations able to be determined simultaneously.”
The AN/TPQ-36 has previously been operationally deployed by the ADF in
Iraq.
With the delivery of four of the seven upgraded Weapon Locating Radars,
from the prime contractor Raytheon, initial operational capability has now
been achieved.
Initial operational capability is achieved when the first subset of a capability
system is proven suitable and effective for operational employment.
“I am pleased to see that this project is performing on schedule and on budget
and is due to achieve its full operational capability by March 2010.”
“This capability is necessary to provide the ADF the support they need in
detecting incoming enemy fire,” said Mr Combet.
The achievement of the key operational capability milestone for the first four
upgraded systems was marked by a ceremony today at 20th Surveillance and
Target Acquisition Regiment at Enoggera Barracks in Brisbane.
The Weapon Locating Radars are being upgraded under Project Land 58
Phase 3 to extend their service life to 2015.
Media contact:
Rod Hilton (Greg Combet) 02 6277 7620 or 0458 276 619
Defence Media Liaison: 02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
