ThalesRaytheonSystems has been awarded a $44.9 million contract by the U.S. Army to upgrade the Receiver Exciter (REX) in the Improved AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar.

The enhanced REX is part of the U.S. Army's program to further improve the AN/TPQ-37's performance, maintainability and reliability, while extending the service life of these long-range counter-battery systems.

REX Modification Kits and spares are scheduled to be delivered to the U.S. Army mid-2013. The REX unit performs two critical radar functions: It produces the signal transmitted from the radar antenna and conditions the received signal for processing within the radar's computer system.

“The REX upgrade represents the latest enhancement to the Improved Firefinder radar. The extensive improvements and enhancements, including the REX, make the Improved AN/TPQ-37 an essentially new system, while retaining its vast history and combat proven credentials. There is no other weapon locating radar that can match the AN/TPQ-37 in terms of performance, reliability and readiness,” said Kim Kerry, Chief Executive Officer, ThalesRaytheonSystems, U.S. Operations.

The REX upgrade for the Improved AN/TPQ-37 is available as a field or depot retrofit, or in new production radars. The Improved AN/TPQ-37 is one of the few U.S. designed and built radars currently available for export to nations around the world.

The Enhanced REX will contribute to the Improved AN/TPQ-37's reduced total cost of ownership and unsurpassed weapon locating performance.

The Improved AN/TPQ-37 is the world's premier long-range weapon locating radar. Improved Firefinders have been deployed in Iraq and continue to be deployed with U.S. forces in Afghanistan. In total, more than 380 Firefinder radars (AN/TPQ-37 and AN/TPQ-36) have been delivered to the U.S. Army and 11 international customers.

Firefinder radars locate the position of hostile artillery, rockets and mortars with unsurpassed accuracy so that friendly forces can quickly and decisively return precision fire.