The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) exercised a contract option to procure three additional TPY-4 radars from Lockheed Martin (LM), bringing the new total to 11 of the ground-based multi-mission radars.
The TPY-4, which has been coined “NATO’s eyes in the north”, also recently completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) confirming the radar design is meeting the program requirements.
“Lockheed Martin’s TPY-4 radars are crucial components of Norway’s defense and are the most suitable choice for supporting all-domain deterrence in the Nordic region.
The additional order and the completion of the CDR mark major steps forward, confirming that our radar meets the stringent requirements of NDMA and ensuring the security and sovereignty of Norway.”
Chandra Marshall, Vice President Radar & Sensor Systems at Lockheed Martin
Partnering with Norwegian Industry
The relationship with Norwegian industry has been a critical element to the development of TPY-4. Lockheed Martin leveraged an extensive Norwegian supplier base making this program and other active international opportunities for TPY-4 a true U.S./Norwegian industry partnership. In particular, the relationship with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) resulted in the production of the first TPY-4 which included the Platform Electronics System (PES) built by KDA, a critical element in the foundation of this next generation sensor that meets and exceeds current long range surveillance requirements. The Royal Norwegian Air Force will manage and operate the TPY-4 radars, integrating them into Norway’s broader air surveillance and defense network.
Transitioning to Production & Test
The TPY-4 radar system, a state-of-the-art multi-mission sensor, enhances the Norwegian Air Force’s capability to detect, track, and classify aerial threats, providing critical situational awareness. The system supports air surveillance, low profile unmanned aerial system (UAS) detection, ballistic missile defense and air traffic control. With CDR complete, LM and KDA are now focused on finalizing the production of the TPY-4 radars for NDMA and preparing for the first Factory System Test (FST) scheduled for completion in 2025.
The U.S. Air Force has also selected the TPY-4 radar for the Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long Range Radar (3DELRR) program and has successfully accomplished risk reduction testing.
Source: Lockheed Martin news release