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Lockheed Martin Australia has celebrated two decades of sustaining the AN-TPS‑77‑based Tactical Air Defence Radar System in partnership with the Royal Australian Air Force.
The Tactical Air Defence Radar System (TADRS) has delivered more than 150,000 hours of operational service, enabling the Australian Defence Force to detect, track and counter airborne threats in real time across the Indo‑Pacific and beyond.
“We have built a highly responsive and technically proficient team at Williamtown that has consistently adapted to the evolving needs of the ADF,” said Philip Gordon, director international strategy and business development, Rotary and Mission Systems, Lockheed Martin Australia.
“The lessons learned from sustaining the legacy TADRS will be carried forward into the air battle management enterprise, ensuring a seamless transition to future air defence platforms and a stronger, more integrated defence capability for Australia.”
To align with the ADF’s priorities to field agile, layered air and missile defences, Lockheed Martin Australia has redesigned elements of the TADRS to reduce its operational footprint, improve safety, increase mobility and accelerate rapid deployment.
As part of this ongoing evolution, Lockheed Martin Australia delivered five new command and control systems to support the ADF’s ground‑based battle management during Talisman Sabre 2025 and upgraded the TADRS with integrated voice‑communication technology for international deployments.
“I commend the Royal Australian Air Force and industry on this remarkable milestone. It is a testament to the enduring partnership between the ADF and our industry partners,” Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand chief executive Jeremy King said.
“TADRS has been a mainstay of Australia's security operations. For 20 years, the joint team has proudly sustained the ‘eyes’ of Australia’s ground-based air defence, working together to deliver the capabilities Australia needs to respond to advancing air and missile threats.”
As part of the sustainment effort in the Hunter region, Lockheed Martin Australia has grown a regional industrial base of over 65 highly skilled individuals, worked with over 170 regional suppliers, and forged key industry partnerships with Daronmont Technologies, Varley Group, R&R Murphy, AFL Telecom and Rojone.
These collaborations drive continuous hardware and software upgrades, advanced systems integration, and technology enhancements that keep the radar dependable, secure and mission ready.
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