The AN/TPQ-53, commonly called Q-53, is a Lockheed Martin mobile active electronically scanned array radar that began as the Army's counterfire replacement for AN/TPQ-36 and AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radars. Its baseline mission is to detect, classify, track, and locate mortar, artillery, and rocket launches in 90-degree or 360-degree modes, while software and open-architecture upgrades have extended the same family into counter-UAS, air-surveillance, and wider multimission radar roles.
Modern War Institute reporting on Operation Epic Fury described AN/TPQ-53 multimission radars as part of U.S. ground-based sensor networks that tracked rockets, missiles, and unmanned systems to shorten targeting cycles and improve engagements.
Defense News reported Ukrainian attache comments that Ukraine received 20 AN/TPQ-53 radars in 2015 for mortar and short-range artillery warning; current SIPRI and U.S. aid data more clearly document later Q-53 support, including TPQ-53 radars ordered in 2022 and delivered in 2023-2024 and a 2022 AN/TPQ-53 contract award for Ukraine.
Role detailsDOT&E reported that fielding of the Quick Reaction Capability AN/TPQ-53 began in 2010 with ten systems operating in Iraq and Afghanistan to locate threat rockets, artillery, and mortars for warning and counterfire.
Role detailsDOT&E reported that fielding of the Quick Reaction Capability AN/TPQ-53 began in 2010 with ten systems operating in Iraq and Afghanistan to locate threat rockets, artillery, and mortars for warning and counterfire.
Role detailsDefense Systems reported that the AN/TPQ-53 deployed as part of Operation Inherent Resolve and that an Army unit commander described the radar as reliable during an Iraq deployment.
Role detailsThe Q-53 designation covers the same radar family moving from urgent counterfire fielding to a program-of-record counterfire system and later multimission software/configuration updates.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| EQ-36 / Enhanced AN/TPQ-36 | Pre-designation program name | DOT&E described the EQ-36 program and reported that the Army designated the Quick Reaction Capability systems as AN/TPQ-53 in September 2011. |
| AN/TPQ-53 Quick Reaction Capability Radar | Urgent fielding counterfire radar | The QRC buy supported an Urgent Materiel Release, with fielding beginning in 2010 in Iraq and Afghanistan before the later program-of-record production decision. Sources: Enhanced AN/TPQ-36 FY2011 DOT&E Report, Q-53 FY2012 DOT&E Report |
| AN/TPQ-53 Counterfire Target Acquisition Radar | Program-of-record counterfire system | The formal Army program covers a mobile radar set for locating mortar, artillery, and rocket points of origin, with 90-degree and 360-degree coverage and Firefinder replacement duties. Sources: AN/TPQ-53 December 2019 Selected Acquisition Report |
| Q-53 Multi-Mission Radar | Multimission / counter-UAS configuration | Lockheed Martin describes software-enabled multimission use in which the Q-53 supports air surveillance and counter-UAS tracking while retaining counterfire target acquisition. Sources: Lockheed Martin Q-53 Counter-UAS Demonstration, U.S. Army Orders More Q-53 Counterfire Radars from Lockheed Martin, Lockheed Martin AN/TPQ-53 Radar Strengthens USNORTHCOM Mission |
Janes notes that the U.S. Army operates the AN/TPQ-53 integrated on five-tonne M1083 6x6 medium tactical vehicles.
| Carrier | Carrier type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 5-ton 6x6 medium tactical vehicle | Janes says the U.S. Army operates the AN/TPQ-53 integrated on five-tonne M1083 6×6 medium tactical vehicles. Sources: Singapore Army commissions TPQ-53 S-band WLR system |
Lockheed Martin states it won the Q-53 development contract in 2007, beginning the company-led development path that preceded later QRC and program-of-record buys.
Sources: U.S. Army Orders More Q-53 Counterfire Radars from Lockheed Martin
DOT&E reported that Quick Reaction Capability radar fielding began in 2010, with systems operating in Iraq and Afghanistan during the urgent materiel-release phase.
Sources: Enhanced AN/TPQ-36 FY2011 DOT&E Report
The Army designated the QRC systems as AN/TPQ-53 in September 2011, replacing the earlier EQ-36 naming used during the source-selection period.
Sources: Enhanced AN/TPQ-36 FY2011 DOT&E Report, Q-53 FY2012 DOT&E Report
The Army selected Lockheed Martin as the primary program-of-record contractor and approved a 38-system low-rate initial production quantity for AN/TPQ-53.
Sources: Q-53 FY2012 DOT&E Report, AN/TPQ-53 December 2019 Selected Acquisition Report
The 2019 Selected Acquisition Report records the AN/TPQ-53 full-rate production decision on December 22, 2015.
Sources: AN/TPQ-53 December 2019 Selected Acquisition Report
Lockheed Martin reported a demonstration in which Q-53 tracked unmanned aerial systems and sent data to air-defense command and control while still performing counterfire target acquisition.
Sources: Lockheed Martin Q-53 Counter-UAS Demonstration
Lockheed Martin announced a $1.6 billion order-dependent contract and said the Army's Q-53 complement would total more than 170 systems after the full-rate production award.
Sources: U.S. Army Orders More Q-53 Counterfire Radars from Lockheed Martin
The December 2019 SAR reported 115 of 189 systems fielded as of February 2020, with last production delivery planned for FY2021 and final fielding in FY2022.
Sources: AN/TPQ-53 December 2019 Selected Acquisition Report
Lockheed Martin reported that the Army's Q-53 Multi-Mission Radar integrated with an Army command-and-control system and provided tracking data to launch a counter-UAS defeat system at Yuma, Arizona.
Sources: US Army's Q-53 Multi-Mission Radar Demonstrates Counter-UAS
The Army FY2025 RDT&E budget scheduled DDREX Capability Sets 1 and 2 development and integration/testing through 2025, with soldier touch points and live-fire work tied to the modernization path.
Sources: FY2025 AN/TPQ-53 RDT&E Budget Justification
Lockheed Martin described AN/TPQ-53 MMR use supporting U.S. Northern Command's southern-border mission with open-architecture software, 360-degree scanning, and unmanned-aircraft detection.
Sources: Lockheed Martin AN/TPQ-53 Radar Strengthens USNORTHCOM Mission
PB 2027 Army budget material lists DDREX Capability Sets 1 and 2 development through early 2026 with follow-on testing in 2026, planned DDREX kit fielding in FY2030, and Capability Sets 3 and 4 development and integration work extending through 2031.
Sources: PB 2027 AN/TPQ-53 RDT&E Budget Justification
