Cutting edge radar unit proves its mettle at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground

By Mr. Mark Schauer (ATEC)July 2, 2015

Cutting edge radar unit proves its mettle at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground
The truck-based Army-Navy Transportable Multipurpose Radar (AN/TPQ-53) system detects incoming rounds surrounding its location, both warning Soldiers of the imminent barrage and allowing them to pinpoint return fire. The large radar dish is powered ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

YUMA PROVING GROUND, ARIZ.-- The element of surprise can be a critical weapon, and nothing removes it from the playbook of adversary forces quite like radar.

Radar units send out pulses of high-frequency electromagnetic waves that reflect off objects, and modern radar systems are sophisticated enough to track even small, rapidly moving objects like rockets and mortar and artillery shells.

The truck-based Army-Navy Transportable Multipurpose Radar (AN/TPQ-53) system detects incoming rounds surrounding its location, both warning Soldiers of the imminent barrage and allowing them to pinpoint return fire. The system can differentiate between different types of shells, and Soldiers are able to operate the rapidly swiveling radar dish from inside the cab of its prime mover or remotely. The large radar dish is powered by a towed generator and is accompanied by a single support vehicle, making it easier to transport and emplace than its predecessor, the AN/TPQ-36.

"It's very operator friendly," said Sgt. Colin Coffey, section chief. "I don't think there are any disadvantages to this radar system at all."

U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) conducted extensive developmental testing on the radar and recently hosted a multi-week operational test where Soldiers of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, North Carolina used it in real world conditions.

"YPG has a large range with the space necessary to operate this radar at the tactical distance required by the user," said Ray Segarra, operational test officer.

During the test, each radar's crew lived in tents as they would while deployed in a combat zone, engaging in five distinct mission scenarios that each lasted for 72 hours. The dynamic missions involved multiple moves throughout each day, from short survivability scoots to much longer tactical treks across YPG's vast ranges.

"For developmental tests, the radar tends to be in one spot with the gun crews changing position a lot," said Jonny Clark, test officer. "In an operational test, we have the radar and the gun crew in motion."

Each move meant the Soldiers had to stake and emplace the radar in the new location, always with YPG data collectors observing and timing them.

"It's not a race," said Clark. "We need to know how long it takes Soldiers to emplace it in real-world conditions."

Likewise, weapons operation crews supporting the test moved frequently throughout a typical day to test the radar from different locations, requiring careful coordination. The diverse expertise of YPG's weapons operators means the system can be readily put through its paces against all types of indirect fire. In several of the test scenarios, the system was exposed to all of these simultaneously or in rapid succession from multiple locations over the course of the day.

"The radar needs to be able to see the whole battlefield, not just one round at a time," said Clark.

Further, it needs to reliably do so even in radiofrequency environments cluttered by cell phones and other electronic devices. Conversely, testers at YPG have access to the proving ground's nearly 500 permanent radiofrequencies and as many as 2,000 temporary ones available in a given month, allowing them to test emitting devices without interfering with civilian electronics in the region.

With decades of experience and highly instrumented ranges, radar testing is poised to remain an important part of YPG's mission for the foreseeable future.

"YPG has been very supportive," said Segarra. "I can't say any bad words about the proving ground."