Group : Radar Systems
Status : Active
Also Known As : AN/MPQ-64A3, MPQ-64F2 (NASAMS version), Sentinel A3
Origin : United States of America
Contractor : ThalesRaytheonSystems
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 1999
Total Production : 262

The AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel has been designed as a mobile, air surveillance and target acquisition/tracking radar system. The Sentinel is a 3D phased array, X-band radar able to automatically detect, track, identify, classify and report airborne threats including helicopters, high-speed attack aircraft, cruise missiles and UAVs. The Sentinel operates within ground forces units providing them with early warning. The system also includes an integrated IFF (AN/TPX-56) capability that helps prevent fratricide fire.

The Sentinel has been designed to operate jointly with weapons, radars and command posts widely separated battlefield positions. AMRAAM and Stinger missiles, as well as anti-aircraft guns and other ant-aircraft missiles, are fully compatible with the Sentinel radar system. The Sentinel has been integrated on Turkish low-level air defense program, the HAWK-AMRAAM and the US Army's Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD). The MPQ-64 is easily transportable by a single C-130 aircraft or sling-loaded by 2 UH-60L or 1 CH-47 helicopters. A M1097A1 HMMWV vehicle has the Sentinel radar in tow.

ThalesRaytheonSystems, a joint venture company of Raytheon and Thales, is currently producing and integrating Sentinel modernization kits into existing AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radar systems. Each modernization kit is worth more than $600,000 including integration work. The kits provide Sentinel with increased detection and acquisition ranges, improved target classification and greater detection of smaller targets in both clear and cluttered environments.

To date, two contracts have been awarded to upgrade US Army AN/MPQ-64 systems with the modernization kits. The second contract, valued at $13.1 million, was awarded in November 2004 and covers production and integration of 20 modernization kits to be complete in 2008. The improved radar systems will support the Army's SHORAD and SLAMRAAM air defense systems. The first such system was fielded by the US Army in April 2006 at the Air Defense Artillery School at Fort Bliss, Texas.

Group : Radar Systems
Status : Under Development
Origin : United States of America
Contractor : Lockheed Martin
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2023
Total Production : 18

The US Army AN/MPQ-64A4 is an upgraded variant of the Sentinel A3 radar system with highly improved performance against cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft. The Sentinel A4 air and missile defense radar will provide improved surveillance, detection and classification capabilities. The new radar system is slated to protect the US Army formations and high value static assets such as command and control nodes, tactical assembly areas and geo-political centers. The new US Army radar leverages the TPS-77 and Q-53 Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology. Lockheed Martin was awarded a $281 million contract for the development and production of 18 Sentinel A4 radar systems by 2026.