One of the system’s principal advantages is its ability to combine long-range surveillance with coverage optimized for low-altitude threats. Operators can assign different surveillance priorities to individual sectors, allowing the radar to respond to changing operational requirements. This flexibility is particularly relevant in the Baltic region, where military aircraft, unmanned systems and other aerial threats create different detection challenges. The system also uses gallium nitride technology, which Lockheed Martin associates with reduced power consumption and improved reliability.

Mobility provides an additional operational advantage. Unlike permanently installed surveillance radars, the AN/TPS-77 MRR can be repositioned to reinforce coverage in areas where additional monitoring is required. This capability can help Lithuania adapt its surveillance network to changing threat directions and operational priorities. However, radar coverage remains influenced by terrain, deployment locations and the availability of communications and supporting infrastructure. Small drones flying at very low altitude can remain difficult to detect, particularly when terrain or other obstacles restrict radar visibility.

The new Lithuanian radars will also contribute to NATO’s wider surveillance architecture. Through existing regional cooperation, including the Baltic Air Surveillance Network and Control System (BALTNET), Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia exchange air surveillance information to support a shared operational picture. Latvia has operated AN/TPS-77 MRR technology since 2018, providing an example of how mobile surveillance capabilities can complement fixed radar infrastructure. Integrating Lithuania’s new systems should improve the availability and continuity of radar information used by national and allied commanders.