AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel vs AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar

ARadar & sensors

AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel

X-band electronically steered pulse-Doppler 3D radar system

BRadar & sensors

AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar

mobile radar system

First system

Second system

Measured figures

Head to head

4 of 11 rows sourced on both sides

120kmAN/MPQ-64F1/A3

—

Range

All recorded figures & sources

40 km

AN/MPQ-64

Single source

120 km

AN/MPQ-64F1/A3

Single source

40 km

Sentinel · baseline described in 2007 · Range

Single source

AN/MPQ-64: 40 km (25 mi) AN/MPQ-64F1/A3: 120 km (75 mi)^[source]

40 kilometers^[source]Sentinel · baseline described in 2007

Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.

Configuration

Details

AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel and AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar configuration
Specification	AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel	AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar
Country of origin	United States^[source]	United States^[source]Country/countries explicitly given in the equipment row Origin column; not the country operating the row. AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder United States^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 10, row 10, cell 3; revision 1375247138; retrieved 2026-10-02
Frequency	X band^[source] X-band^[source]Sentinel · baseline described in 2007	—
Altitude	Operating: 3,000 m (9,800 ft) Non-operating: 12,000 m (39,000 ft)^[source]	—
Azimuth	360°^[source]	—
Elevation	–10° to +55°^[source]	—
Role	X-band electronically steered pulse-Doppler 3D radar system^[source]	mobile radar system^[source]
Manufacturer	Raytheon Missiles & Defense^[source]	ThalesRaytheonSystems^[source]
Source measurement	The antenna uses phase-frequency electronic scanning technology , forming sharp 3D pencil beams covering large surveillance and track volume. It uses a rotating platform with a high scan rate (30 RPM) to provide 360 degree coverage. The radar is designed with high resistance to electronic countermeasures (ECM) and anti-radiation missiles (ARM).^[source]AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel · Main characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The system can be deployed using HMMWV fitted with a 10 kW 400 Hz 115/200 VAC on-board power generator. It can be operated autonomously and communicate with the fire direction center via wideband fiber-optic link. It can also distribute its data over a SINCGARS radio network.^[source]AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel · Main characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage AN/MPQ-64A3 is mounted on a 2.5 ton trailer with an on-board power generator, towed by an armored Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) truck.^[source]AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel · AN/MPQ-64A3 Enhanced Sentinel; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage	AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder Weapon Locating System is a mobile radar system developed in the late 1970s by Hughes Aircraft Company , achieving Initial Operational Capability in 1980 and full deployment in 1984. Currently manufactured by ThalesRaytheonSystems , the system is a long-range version of "weapon-locating radar", designed to detect and track incoming artillery and rocket fire to determine the point of origin for counter-battery fire . It is currently in service at brigade and higher levels in the United States Army and by other countries. The radar is trailer-mounted and towed by a 2 + 1 ⁄ 3 -short-ton (2,100 kg) truck. A typical AN/TPQ-37 system consists of the Antenna-Transceiver Group, Command Shelter and 60 kW Generator.^[source]AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The AN/TPQ-37 is an electronically steered radar, meaning the radar does not actually move while in operation. The radar scans a 90-degree sector for incoming rocket, artillery and mortar fire. Upon detecting a possible incoming round, the system verifies the contact before initiating a track sequence, continuing to search for new targets. The incoming round/rocket is tracked during its initial upward/launch trajectory (i.e., the linear portion of its flight path) prior to reaching apogee. A computer program analyzes the track data and then extrapolates the round's point of origin. This calculated point of origin is then reported to the operator with map coordinates, thus allowing friendly artillery to direct counter-battery fire towards the enemy artillery. The system has a reported range of up to 31 miles (50 km). The system may also be operated in a friendly fire mode to determine the accuracy of counterbattery return fire.^[source]AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar · Operation; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Azimuth sector: 1600 mils (90 degrees)^[source]AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar · Main characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Prime power: 115/200 VAC, 400 Hz, 3-phase, 43 kW^[source]AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar · Main characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Peak transmitted power: 120 kW, min.^[source]AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar · Main characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Permanent storage for 99 targets^[source]AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar · Main characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Automatic operation and high speed AHC using DTED Level II (30 meters between elevation points) to enhance accuracy of weapon location process.^[source]AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar · Upgrades; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

FORCETALLY

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AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel

AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar

Country of origin

United States^[source]

United States^[source]Country/countries explicitly given in the equipment row Origin column; not the country operating the row. AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder

United States^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 10, row 10, cell 3; revision 1375247138; retrieved 2026-10-02

Frequency

X band^[source]

X-band^[source]Sentinel · baseline described in 2007

—

Altitude

Operating: 3,000 m (9,800 ft) Non-operating: 12,000 m (39,000 ft)^[source]

—

Azimuth

360°^[source]

—

Elevation

–10° to +55°^[source]

—

Role

X-band electronically steered pulse-Doppler 3D radar system^[source]

mobile radar system^[source]

Manufacturer

Raytheon Missiles & Defense^[source]

ThalesRaytheonSystems^[source]

Source measurement

The antenna uses phase-frequency electronic scanning technology , forming sharp 3D pencil beams covering large surveillance and track volume. It uses a rotating platform with a high scan rate (30 RPM) to provide 360 degree coverage. The radar is designed with high resistance to electronic countermeasures (ECM) and anti-radiation missiles (ARM).^[source]AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel · Main characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The system can be deployed using HMMWV fitted with a 10 kW 400 Hz 115/200 VAC on-board power generator. It can be operated autonomously and communicate with the fire direction center via wideband fiber-optic link. It can also distribute its data over a SINCGARS radio network.^[source]AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel · Main characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

AN/MPQ-64A3 is mounted on a 2.5 ton trailer with an on-board power generator, towed by an armored Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) truck.^[source]AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel · AN/MPQ-64A3 Enhanced Sentinel; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder Weapon Locating System is a mobile radar system developed in the late 1970s by Hughes Aircraft Company , achieving Initial Operational Capability in 1980 and full deployment in 1984. Currently manufactured by ThalesRaytheonSystems , the system is a long-range version of "weapon-locating radar", designed to detect and track incoming artillery and rocket fire to determine the point of origin for counter-battery fire . It is currently in service at brigade and higher levels in the United States Army and by other countries. The radar is trailer-mounted and towed by a 2 + 1 ⁄ 3 -short-ton (2,100 kg) truck. A typical AN/TPQ-37 system consists of the Antenna-Transceiver Group, Command Shelter and 60 kW Generator.^[source]AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The AN/TPQ-37 is an electronically steered radar, meaning the radar does not actually move while in operation. The radar scans a 90-degree sector for incoming rocket, artillery and mortar fire. Upon detecting a possible incoming round, the system verifies the contact before initiating a track sequence, continuing to search for new targets. The incoming round/rocket is tracked during its initial upward/launch trajectory (i.e., the linear portion of its flight path) prior to reaching apogee. A computer program analyzes the track data and then extrapolates the round's point of origin. This calculated point of origin is then reported to the operator with map coordinates, thus allowing friendly artillery to direct counter-battery fire towards the enemy artillery. The system has a reported range of up to 31 miles (50 km). The system may also be operated in a friendly fire mode to determine the accuracy of counterbattery return fire.^[source]AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar · Operation; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Azimuth sector: 1600 mils (90 degrees)^[source]AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar · Main characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Prime power: 115/200 VAC, 400 Hz, 3-phase, 43 kW^[source]AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar · Main characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Peak transmitted power: 120 kW, min.^[source]AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar · Main characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Permanent storage for 99 targets^[source]AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar · Main characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Automatic operation and high speed AHC using DTED Level II (30 meters between elevation points) to enhance accuracy of weapon location process.^[source]AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar · Upgrades; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage