New radar takes control in Williamtown test

CO 3CRU WGCDR Ian Gibson, FLTLT Julien Greening and FLGOFF Clint Huxley (rear) supervise mission execution from within the TADRS cabin.

THE Air Force’s new Tactical Air Defence Radar System (TADRS) has been used to control fighter aircraft for the first time in tests conducted at RAAF Base Williamtown.

The new AN/TPS-77 radar and its ancillary sub-systems have been undergoing testing for some time, building up to the introduction of four new TADRSs to replace the existing AN/TPS-43 systems.

Flight Lieutenant Julien Greening and Flying Officer Clint Huxley, both from No. 3 Control and Reporting Unit, controlled an air intercept mission to test the new system, with No. 3 Squadron providing the air assets for the task.

Months of shadow operations – in which the TADRS monitors and integrates with an existing air control system – preceded the stand-alone testing of the AN/TPS-77, which, for safety, was shadowed from the Eastern Region Operations Centre.

Flight Lieutenant Greening said it had been good to see the system testing reach a level at which it was being used in its primary role.

“I hope future steps will see the deployment of the system overseas for surveillance and control missions,” he said.

The first AN/TPS-77 radar system is due to be accepted into service soon, following the completion of final testing.

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