The first of 19 Sentinel A4 radars ordered under the US Army’s LRIP 2 program has been delivered by Lockheed Martin. Approved in August 2023, the LRIP effort will see the Sentinel A4 replace the existing Sentinel A3 radar and integrate with the Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System and Indirect Fire Protection Capability architecture.
The delivery follows the successful completion of the initial phase of Initial Operational Test and Evaluation, during which the radar was integrated with the Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control network. This progress positions the program for a transition to full-rate production.
While key performance details remain classified, the Sentinel A4 is designed to supply precise tracking data to both IBCS and FAAD-C2, enabling commanders to quickly determine how and where to engage incoming threats. The system features an open-architecture design and a 360-degree GaN-based AESA sensor capable of detecting missiles, drones, aircraft, helicopters, rockets, artillery, and mortars.
The radar can operate from fixed sites or accompany maneuver forces and is engineered for effectiveness in harsh terrain and electronically contested environments. It is also designed to interoperate with allied and joint systems, including NASAMS, Aegis, and NORAD.
