Companies team in radar bid

Indonesian technology company PT CMI Teknologi and Lockheed Martin have joined to pursue a contract to improve the country's aerial surveillance capability. The contract is for the National Airspace Surveillance -- Republic of Indonesia program and the companies plan to offer the government the TPS-77 and FP-FPS-177 long-range surveillance radars. The Lockheed radars -- more than 40 in all -- would be produced in Indonesia if the partnership is chosen for the project. "CMI's strong background in microwave electronics makes them an ideal partner for the manufacture and long-term support of these radar systems in Indonesia," said James Gribbon, Asia Pacific regional president for Lockheed Martin. "By integrating new sensors with Indonesia's command-and-control system, the NASRI network will greatly enhance air sovereignty and surveillance over the country's more than 17,000 islands, spanning a distance wider than the United States." The TPS-77 is an active, three-dimensional phased array system with a detection and tracking range of 280 miles. It is mobile and can be deployed where needed. The FP-FPS-177 is a ground-based, single-beam system. "Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 170 long-range surveillance radars around the world, all of which are still in continuous operation today," said CMI President Rahardjo Pratjihno. "Our company and our country's defense industry will both benefit from this trusting co-production relationship for the NASRI program." The teaming agreement was announced at the Singapore Air Show.