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SYRACUSE (BNS): US Air Force has approved Lockheed Martin’s preliminary design for the Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar (3DELRR).

The next-generation mobile, long-range surveillance and ballistic missile defence radar, 3DELRR, will serve as the principal ground-based sensor for long-range detection, identification, tracking, and reporting of aircraft and missiles for both the Air Force and the Marine Corps.

US Air Force will replace the existing AN/TPS-75 air search radar from the 3DELRR. The Marines are also evaluating the system as a replacement for its AN/TPS-59 ballistic missile defence radar.

“The new radar’s open architecture will allow it to easily adopt emerging technology, expanding the system’s viability well beyond the typical 20-year life of today’s sensor systems," Mark Mekker, director of Lockheed Martin’s ground-based surveillance radar, said.

In March 2010, US Air Force has approved Lockheed Martin’s first capability demonstration of significant systems-level technology.

In May 2009, Lockheed had already received a 20-month 3DELRR technology development contract for $25 million from USAF.

The Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base (leading the acquisition for 3DELRR) also plans to award one contract by early 2012 to complete the 3DELRR technology development and engineering manufacturing development phase.

Once deployed, 3DELRR will be the primary ground-based sensor for the Air Force’s Joint Forces Air Component Commander through the Ground Theater Air Control System and the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Commander through the Marine Air Command and Control System.