The AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel is an

X-band The X band is the designation for a band of frequencies in the microwave radio region of the electromagnetic spectrum. In some cases, such as in communication engineering, the frequency range of the X band is rather indefinitely set at approxi ...

3D radar 3-D, 3D, or 3d may refer to: Science, technology, and mathematics Relating to three-dimensionality * Three-dimensional space ** 3D computer graphics, computer graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data ** 3D film, a ...

system used to alert and cue Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD)

weapons A weapon, arm or armament is any implement or device that can be used to deter, threaten, inflict physical damage, harm, or kill. Weapons are used to increase the efficacy and efficiency of activities such as hunting, crime, law enforcement, s ...

to the locations of hostile targets approaching their front line forces. It is currently produced by

Raytheon Missiles & Defense Raytheon Missiles & Defense (RMD) is one of four business segments of Raytheon Technologies. Headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, its president is Wes Kremer. The business produces a broad portfolio of advanced technologies, including air and missi ...

. First built in 1997 as a modification of AN/TPQ-36A for search and track role in the Norwegian

NASAMS NASAMS (Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, also known as the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) is a distributed and networked short- to medium-range ground-based air defense system developed by Kongsberg Defence & Ae ...

air defense system, the Sentinel radar is deployed with forward area

air defense Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based ...

units of the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

. Mounted on a towed platform, it can be positioned remotely from the rest of the unit.

Main characteristics

The

antenna Antenna ( antennas or antennae) may refer to: Science and engineering * Antenna (radio), also known as an aerial, a transducer designed to transmit or receive electromagnetic (e.g., TV or radio) waves * Antennae Galaxies, the name of two collid ...

uses phase-frequency electronic scanning technology, forming sharp 3D pencil beams covering large surveillance and track volume. It uses a rotating platform with a high scan rate (30 RPM) to provide 360 degree coverage. The radar is designed with high resistance to

electronic countermeasures An electronic countermeasure (ECM) is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar, or other detection systems, like infrared (IR) or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting info ...

(ECM) and

anti-radiation missile An anti-radiation missile (ARM) is a missile designed to detect and home in on an enemy radio emission source. Typically, these are designed for use against an enemy radar, although jammers and even radios used for communications can also be ...

s (ARM). The system automatically acquires, tracks, classifies, identifies and reports high- and low-altitude targets, including

cruise missile A cruise missile is a guided missile used against terrestrial or naval targets that remains in the atmosphere and flies the major portion of its flight path at approximately constant speed. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warh ...

unmanned aerial vehicle An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which includes adding a ground-based controll ...

s, and both rotary- and fixed-wing

aircraft An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to flight, fly by gaining support from the Atmosphere of Earth, air. It counters the force of gravity by using either Buoyancy, static lift or by using the Lift (force), dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in ...

. Identification of friendly aircraft is aided by

identification friend or foe Identification, friend or foe (IFF) is an identification system designed for command and control. It uses a transponder that listens for an ''interrogation'' signal and then sends a ''response'' that identifies the broadcaster. IFF systems usua ...

(IFF) interrogation. The system can be deployed using HMMWV fitted with a 10 kW 400 Hz 115/200 VDC on-board power generator. It can be operated

autonomous In developmental psychology and moral, political, and bioethical philosophy, autonomy, from , ''autonomos'', from αὐτο- ''auto-'' "self" and νόμος ''nomos'', "law", hence when combined understood to mean "one who gives oneself one's ow ...

ly and communicate with the

fire direction center In the US system for land-based field artillery, the field artillery team is organized to direct and control indirect artillery fire on the battlefield. Since World War I, to conduct indirect artillery fire, three distinct components have evolv ...

via

wideband In communications, a system is wideband when the message bandwidth significantly exceeds the coherence bandwidth of the channel. Some communication links have such a high data rate that they are forced to use a wide bandwidth; other links ma ...

fiber-optic link. It can also distribute its data over a

SINCGARS Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) is a Combat-net radio (CNR) used by U.S. and allied military forces. The CNR network is designed around three systems: SINCGARS, the high frequency (HF) radio, and the SC tactical sate ...

radio network.

AN/MPQ-64A1 Improved Sentinel

Under A1 Improved Sentinel modernization program, existing Sentinel units are equipped with modern digital COTS-based electronics for signal and data processing, which ensures greater performance and allows software modification for quick updates of fielded systems. Waveform upgrades for the receiver/exciter and the replacement of the transmitter with power amplifier modules allows Sentinel to generate, receive and filter low-intensity target classification waveforms. Variable rotation rate increases time on target and position the antenna to improve classification and tracking of smaller cruise missile targets. Updated software supports classification of beyond visual range targets and electronic countermeasures. The upgrade provides a significant range extension and better detection against subsonic cruise missiles, slow-moving Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and drones, and rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft.

AN/MPQ-64F1

Updated version of Improved Sentinel for the

2 air defense system.

AN/MPQ-64M2

Employed by the Dutch

Joint Ground-based Air Defence Command The Joint Ground Based Air Defence Headquarters or JtGBAD HQ was a joint (non-deployable), force-generating British military formation under the operational command of RAF Air Command, sitting under No.1 Group. It was formed circa 2000 and disba ...

AN/MPQ-64A3 Enhanced Sentinel

The U.S. Army ordered the A3 Enhanced Sentinel improvement program in 2011. The upgrade includes the TPX-57 Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) modification kit, which consists of a new Ethernet router, enhanced Radar Control Terminal (eRCT), Signal Data Processor (SDP) box, and multiple circuit card assemblies. This will convert existing A1 Improved Sentinel units to A3 Enhanced Sentinel configuration, increasing reliability and fixing identified hardware issues to match the capabilities of the F1 Improved Sentinel. The eRCT enables remote operations and includes a tactical data recorder needed to support

counter-battery radar A counter-battery radar (alternatively weapon tracking radar or COBRA) is a radar system that detects artillery projectiles fired by one or more guns, howitzers, mortars or rocket launchers and, from their trajectories, locates the position on ...

capabilities. A new operational mode, Multi Mode Sentinel, provides detection for Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (RAM) fire, giving rapid information on the point of origin of the hostile fire as well as an estimate of the impact point. 220124-A-UV688-219 - Allied Spirit 22 (Image 1 of 6)

220124-A-UV688-219 - Allied Spirit 22 (Image 1 of 6)

AN/MPQ-64A3 is mounted on a 2.5 ton trailer with an on-board power generator, towed by an armored

Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles The Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) is a series of military vehicles that are based on a common chassis and vary by payload and mission requirements. The FMTV is derived from the Austrian Steyr 12M18 truck, but substantially m ...

(FMTV) truck. Additional updates are planned for the FY2016-2022. The Common Platform Upgrade modifies the prime mover for the rotating antenna to a common Army platform, which allows the sensor to receive commands from the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) network. The Adjunct Sensor upgrade improves countermeasure protection and threat detection by using a separate S-Band antenna. Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) upgrade adds Mode S support with GPS M-Code capability.

AN/MPQ-64A4

In 2019, the U.S. Army selected

Lockheed Martin The Lockheed Martin Corporation is an American aerospace, arms, defense, information security, and technology corporation with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It ...

to develop the active electronically scanned array (AESA) variant of the radar. The Sentinel A4 is a complete redesign of the sensor that uses digital processing and solid-state antenna modules based on

gallium nitride Gallium nitride () is a binary III/ V direct bandgap semiconductor commonly used in blue light-emitting diodes since the 1990s. The compound is a very hard material that has a Wurtzite crystal structure. Its wide band gap of 3.4 eV affords ...

(GAN) transmitters. The scalable modular architecture is shared with the long-range AN/TPY-4 radar, which has 1000 individually controlled elements and uses GPU computing for signal processing. The AESA antenna allows extended range, faster and more accurate hostile target recognition, and ability to track more threats. It will detect and track small targets, such as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Cruise Missiles, and slow targets, such as UAS and Rotary Wing (RW) aircraft, at low altitudes in clutter and urban settings, with high levels of unwanted signals and echoes generated from physical objects in the environment.https://www.dacis.com/budget/budget_pdf/FY20/PROC/A/0125WK5057_85.pdf Sentinel A4 will be able to contribute sensor data to the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) network and Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2.

Manufacturer

Produced by

. Before its acquisition by the

Raytheon Company The Raytheon Company was a major U.S. defense contractor and industrial corporation with manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft unti ...

, the Hughes Aircraft Co. developed the AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radar at its plant in Fullerton, California, and manufactured it at its facility in

Forest, Mississippi Forest is a city and the county seat of Scott County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 5,684 at the 2010 census and the population is a minority-majority. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total a ...

Nomenclature

Per the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the nomenclature AN/MPQ-64 is * "AN/" indicating Army/Navy(Marines) * "M" for 'mobile', * "P" indicating a position finder (radar). * "Q" for a special-purpose(multipurpose) radar, in this case 3D RADARs. * "64" is the 64th model of this family of MPQ radars.

References

External links

Sentinel radar at Raytheon Missiles and Defense
{{DEFAULTSORT:AN MPQ-64 Sentinel Ground radars Military radars of the United States Raytheon Company products Military electronics of the United States Military equipment introduced in the 2000s