Northrop Grumman has teamed up with Taiwanese firms Ramatek, Champion Auto, and Vivian & Vincent International Trading to deliver the AN/TPS-78 Advanced Capabilities (ADCAP) radar to Taiwan. The collaboration is designed to boost the island’s air surveillance capacity with a proven system already in service with the US Air Force and multiple international operators.
The AN/TPS-78 operates in the S-band, reducing interference while maintaining reliable performance in crowded signal environments. Its stacked beam architecture allows simultaneous detection of high- and low-altitude threats in all weather conditions, including aircraft, drones, and ballistic missiles. With a range of up to 240 nautical miles (444 kilometers), the radar can scan at intervals of 5 or 10 seconds, supporting missions from rapid ground-controlled intercepts to tactical missile tracking.
Compact in design, the ADCAP variant is optimized for mobility and rapid deployment. The radar can be transported by truck, train, helicopter, or C-130 cargo aircraft and set up by a four-person crew in under 30 minutes. Its advanced subsystems include automated tracking, drone detection, and maritime surveillance tools with algorithms engineered to minimize false alarms.
By bringing this capability to Taiwan, Northrop Grumman and its local partners are enhancing the country’s ability to monitor its airspace and coastal approaches. The move comes as the region faces increasingly complex security challenges, where fast, reliable, and mobile radar coverage is essential for maintaining situational awareness.
