The Tactical Reconnaissance and Counter-Concealment Enabled Radar (TRACER) program
addresses the Army’s critical need to identify hidden targets, facilities, and enemy
equipment such as small roadside targets and buried weapons caches. The system’s
design is predicated on Lockheed Martin’s proven foliage penetration (FOPEN) technology,
which was developed specifically to detect vehicles, buildings, and large metallic
objects in broad areas of dense foliage, forested areas and wooded terrain.
As part of the program, SprayCool® will provide Lockheed Martin
(lockheedmartin.com)
with the Digital Receiver/Exciter (DRE) chassis, one of the primary components of
the dual-band synthetic aperture radar. Ultimately the radar will provide images
to ground units in all-weather, day or night conditions and incorporate a data link
that allows processed results to be downlinked to ground stations immediately. This
program will leverage SprayCool systems which have already flown on aircraft such
as the Army's Black Hawk and the Air Force’s Global Hawk and U-2.
