The AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder is a U.S. long-range weapon-locating radar built to detect artillery and rocket launches, compute firing points, and pass coordinates for counter-battery fire. Developed from the Army's Firefinder program and produced by Hughes Aircraft before later Raytheon/ThalesRaytheonSystems sustainment and upgrade work, the Q-37 complemented the shorter-range AN/TPQ-36, shaped Coalition counterbattery tactics in Desert Storm, and later appeared in Ukraine's partner-supplied artillery reconnaissance network.
AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radars supported Coalition counterbattery operations during Operation Desert Storm; InfoAge records 21 TPQ-37s deployed for VII and XVIII Corps, while CSIS describes AN/TPQ-37-supported tactics against Iraqi artillery.
Role detailsUkraine's Missile Forces and Artillery Command described partner-provided artillery-reconnaissance radars in Ukrainian service as including AN/TPQ-37, alongside AN/TPQ-36, AN/TPQ-50, and ARTHUR, for detecting Russian artillery and enabling counterfire.
Role detailsUkrainian artillery command reporting in 2025 described AN/TPQ-37 as one of several partner-supplied radars used in Ukraine's artillery reconnaissance network. In that context it appears beside the AN/TPQ-36, AN/TPQ-50, and Swedish ARTHUR systems rather than as a standalone fire unit.
Detect enemy artillery fire and feed coordinates for counterfire by Ukrainian artillery units.
Public Ukrainian-command reporting identifies operational use but does not give quantities, delivery batches, or assigned units for AN/TPQ-37.
The Q-37 is the larger long-range member of the Firefinder weapon-locating radar family. It worked alongside the shorter-range AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder radar, while the later AN/TPQ-53 multimission radar became the Army's modern counterfire replacement path for aging Q-36 and Q-37 systems.
Enemy artillery and rocket launch points, with mortar detection in broader Firefinder-family references.
Stationary electronically steered antenna scanning a 90-degree sector.
Desert Storm validated long-range counterfire utility but drove later mobility and transportability upgrades.
Army history describes Q-53 fielding as the program-of-record replacement for legacy Q-36 and Q-37 Firefinder radars.
The AN/TPQ-37(V) designations identify configuration and upgrade states within the same long-range Firefinder radar family.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| AN/TPQ-37(V)6 | Desert Storm-era long-range configuration | FAS and GlobalSecurity describe the V6 as the long-range configuration used extensively during Operation Desert Storm, but note that it was difficult to move by air in anything smaller than a C-5. |
| AN/TPQ-37(V)8 | Enhanced Firefinder Block I mobility upgrade | The V8 package added C-130 roll-on/roll-off mobility improvements, a medium tracked suspension system, HMMWV-mounted shelter changes, self-survey capability, memory updates, and cooling-system improvements. |
| AN/TPQ-47 | Proposed successor derivative | Deagel describes the TPQ-47 as an advanced derivative intended to replace AN/TPQ-37 radars with longer range, reduced crew burden, and improved mobility. Sources: Deagel AN/TPQ-37 |
FAS records June 1972 Army approval of the materiel need and development contracting path for the AN/TPQ-37 artillery locating radar.
Sources: FAS AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder
InfoAge's Firefinder history says Hughes and Sperry prototype AN/TPQ-37 radars were field-tested in 1975 before Hughes was selected for production.
Sources: InfoAge Firefinder History
FAS lists May 1981 as the full-scale production contract award date after low-rate contracting in 1976.
Sources: FAS AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder
FAS records February 1983 initial operational capability completion in Europe for AN/TPQ-37.
Sources: FAS AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder
InfoAge's Firefinder history states that 21 TPQ-37 radars deployed to the Middle East in support of VII and XVIII Corps during Desert Storm.
Sources: InfoAge Firefinder History
FAS says the V8 upgrade's fielding was completed by the third quarter of 1997 after adding mobility, self-survey, memory, and cooling improvements.
Sources: FAS AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder
ThalesRaytheonSystems announced Firefinder upgrades for AN/TPQ-36 and AN/TPQ-37 radars, including a modular air-cooled transmitter package for TPQ-37.
Sources: Raytheon Firefinder Upgrade Release
