Lockheed’s Long Range Discrimination Radar Completes Transition to Missile Defense Agency Control

The Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) located at Clear Space Force Station in Clear, Alaska, has achieved the DD250 final acceptance and has been officially transferred to the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) for operational deployment.

LRDR, a component of the United States' missile defense system, is designed to search for and track multiple small objects, including ballistic missiles, across extensive ranges. Its advanced discrimination capabilities enable it to identify lethal objects such as enemy warheads, distinguishing them from non-lethal decoys.

The radar operates in S-band frequencies and boasts a scalable, open systems architecture that facilitates quick adaptation to evolving threats without necessitating hardware modifications. Lockheed Martin, the developer of LRDR, is enhancing the radar to support hypersonic defense, providing decision-makers with actionable information in real-time.

LRDR also supports Space Domain Awareness by monitoring satellites orbiting the Earth, identifying active or inactive satellites, spent rocket bodies, and orbital debris.