(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — As United States closest ally in the region, Singapore has been offered the state-of-the-art AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) ultra long-range radar, TPY-4, developed Lockheed Martin which is capable of detecting targets from distances ranging between 550km to 1000km to meet the city-state’s air defense requirements.
The TPY-4 multi-mission long-range radar is described as the world’s premier ground-based long-range system, expected to revolutionize the air defense capabilities of the republic situated at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula.
With tracking capabilities extending up to a distance of 1,000 kilometers, the republic’s air defense unit can easily detect foreign aircraft, even those that have just taken off from any air base in southern Thailand or northern Malaysia.
This modern and sophisticated TPY-4 radar, already in operation with the United States Air Force and the Norwegian Armed Forces, utilizes high-frequency radio waves to detect and track both existing and potential targets, highlighting the critical role of the electromagnetic spectrum in military technology and defense strategies.
Currently, the Singapore Air Force relies on the long-range FPS-117 radar, also developed by Lockheed Martin, for its air defense system to monitor all forms of aerial threats.
The FPS-117 radar has served Singapore well, capable of detecting targets up to 250 Nautical Miles (463km), but the TPY-4 will the Singapore Armed Forces a step further in terms of guarding its airspace from any threat.
The long-range AESA TPY-4 radar offered by Lockheed Martin to Singapore represents a significant enhancement in capability.
With an altitude detection range of 30.5km, the TPY-4 has an advantage in detecting high-altitude threats, including ballistic missiles and both manned and unmanned aircraft.
In terms of capabilities, the TPY-4 is far superior to the FPS-117, utilizing cutting-edge technology for more accurate and faster target detection and tracking.
This capability is crucial in the current complex security and defense landscape, requiring robust and high-capacity air defense systems to meet critical challenges.
The TPY-4 long-range 3D AESA radar, developed by Lockheed Martin, is based on Gallium Nitride and incorporates digital technology in every aspect of its operation, making it a software-defined radar.
The United States fundamentally strives to ensure that its closest allies maintain a “qualitative edge” in military terms over non-allied nations by providing them with more modern and capable systems and assets.
Operating in the L Band with a versatile rotation rate and Stop/Stare capabilities, the TPY-4 is a multi-mission radar capable of performing various missions simultaneously.
Among the key functions of the long-range 3D AESA TPY-4 radar offered by Lockheed Martin to Singapore are airspace monitoring, unmanned aerial system surveillance, ballistic missile detection and monitoring, maritime area surveillance, and satellite monitoring.
The TPY-4 can be relocated to any operational site using C-130, C-17 transport aircraft, trucks, trains, or helicopters, and is capable of operating in extreme weather conditions and remotely or unmanned. — DSA