Air Force looks to industry for upgrades to Mode 5 IFF processor in TPS-75 mobile tactical radar system
HILL AFB, Utah, 5 Aug. 2010. U.S. Air Force radar systems experts are beginning the process of upgrading the UPX-37 military radar identification and recognition processor in the TPS-75 mobile tactical air defense and air traffic control radar system and the TYQ-23 operations module. The intent is to give the UPX-37 radar processor Mode 5 level 1/2 identification friend-or-foe (IFF) capability, in addition to Modes 1, 2, 3, and 4 IFF, and to bring the UPX-37 processor up to UPX-41 processor standards.
Officials of the Air Force Materiel Command at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, issued a request for information Wednesday to identify defense contractors able to do a Mode 5 IFF hardware and software upgrade on the UPX-37 radar processor. Mode-5 level 1 and 2 IFF is crypto-secure with enhanced encryption, spread spectrum modulation, and time of day authentication, as well as aircraft-unique PIN and additional information such as aircraft position and other attributes.
The AN/TPS-75 is a mobile ground radar for long-range search and altitude-finding, and can combine its data with information from other radar to form an integrated picture of the aerial battlefield for theater commanders. The TPS-75 is self-contained, operates independently of bad weather and electronic jamming, requires a 400 Hz power source to operate, weighs about 8,400 pounds, and can be transported on fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, or trucks.
Officials of the Control and Reporting Center (CRC) at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah, are leading the effort to contract to develop and support a developmental pre-production upgraded radar processor for the TPS-75 radar system. Development will be two or three years long, while production will be six to seven years. The Air Force ultimately may ask the winning contractor to build 40 radars and 70 operations modules as a separate contract.
Companies interested in this project should respond to this request for information no later than 18 Aug. 2010 -- just two weeks away. Air Force officials emphasize that this is not yet a request for proposals.
Respond to the Air Force's Jody Lindley by phone at 801- 586-9128, by e-mail at [email protected], or by post to OO-ALC/PKXB, 6038 Aspen Ave (Bldg 1289), Hill AFB, Utah 84056. For questions or concerns contact Contracting Oficer James Thiros by phone at 801-586-1287, by fax at 801-586-1287, or by e-mail at [email protected].
More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/OOALC/MODE5080310/listing.html.
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John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
