14 February 2024

Lockheed Martin positions TPY-4 radar for Singapore's long-range surveillance requirements

by Ridzwan Rahmat

The TPY-4 radar. (Lockheed Martin)

Lockheed Martin is positioning its TPY-4 ground-based long-range surveillance radar for the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF's) air-defence requirements.

Chandra Marshall, vice-president for radar and sensor systems at Lockheed Martin, confirmed the matter during a briefing for media representatives on 14 February. The briefing was held as a run-up to the Singapore Airshow, which will be held from 20 to 25 February.

The RSAF operates the FPS-117 long-range surveillance radar as part of a multilayered network of air-defence sensors that the service refers to as the island air defence (IAD) system. The FPS-117 has an effective detection range of up to 250 n miles (463 km).

“The TPY-4 is the premier ground-based long-range air surveillance radar in the world. It really represents a generational leap in performance over the FPS-117 radars that Singapore currently operates today,” said Marshall, who also oversees rotary and mission systems at Lockheed Martin.

“It was made and is well suited to detect smaller, faster, and emerging threats of today,” said Marshall, adding that the sensor has been selected by the US Air Force and the Royal Norwegian Air Force for their respective air surveillance requirements.

“If Singapore were to add the TPY-4 to their defence system, it will create synergies with the US Air Force for joint operations as well as for training and sustainment,” she noted.

The TPY-4 radar is able to detect and track not only fixed-wing aircraft and ballistic missiles at altitudes of up to 30.5 km but also low-profile threats such as small unmanned aerial vehicles, said the company.

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