Lockheed Martin’s Game-Changer: Advanced Long Range Discrimination Radar Handed Over to Missile Defense Agency

The Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) situated at Clear Space Force Station in Clear, Alaska, has achieved DD250 final acceptance and has been formally transferred to the Missile Defense Agency in anticipation of an Operational Capability Baseline (OCB) decision and the ultimate transition to the Warfighter. Additionally, prior to this transition, the system has commenced Space Domain Awareness data collections for the United States Space Force.

“This significant achievement reflects years of commitment to the MDA’s objective of securing our homeland,” stated Chandra Marshall, vice president of Radar and Sensor Systems at Lockheed Martin. “LRDR is a state-of-the-art asset that leverages the advantages of both low-frequency and high-frequency radars for an advanced strategy to search, track, and differentiate targets.”

Defending the Nation

LRDR enables the capability to concurrently search for and monitor numerous small objects, encompassing all categories of ballistic missiles, at extensive ranges, under continuous operation. Its discrimination capability will empower LRDR to recognize hostile objects, such as enemy warheads, and distinguish them from non-lethal decoys. LRDR, in conjunction with other components of the Missile Defense System, will safeguard the homeland defense interceptor inventory by minimizing the number of Ground-Based Interceptors necessary for threat engagement.

The highly versatile LRDR operates in S-band frequencies and showcases a scalable, open systems architecture crafted to be modified and expanded to counter emerging threats without altering the hardware framework. It is integrated into the Missile Defense System through the Command and Control, Battle Management and Communications element. As a demonstration of LRDR’s open systems architecture, Lockheed Martin is incorporating new capabilities in support of hypersonic defense, which will provide decision-makers with actionable intelligence to make quicker, timely choices.

Besides missile defense, the radar system bolsters Space Domain Awareness by monitoring satellites orbiting the Earth, detecting, tracking, and identifying both active and inactive satellites, expended rocket bodies, and space debris.

Established Radar Expertise

With extensive experience in developing and delivering radar solutions to clients, Lockheed Martin’s high-performing, high-reliability, solid-state radar systems specialize in target acquisition, early warning, situational awareness, and integrated air and missile defense. Lockheed Martin radars are designed with high commonality, available in highly mobile configurations, operate across all environments, and are deployed globally.