Raytheon wins $677 million radar order
The US Navy has purchased a total number of 38 AN/SPY-6(V) radars. (Photo: HII)
Raytheon’s Air and Missile Defence Radar (AMDR), now officially designated as AN/SPY-6(V), will be purchased by the US Navy to equip the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers the service has been procuring under its Flight III initiative.
Raytheon has received its third order for AN/SPY-6(V) radars which has been exercised from the March 2022 hardware, production and sustainment contract that has been valued at up to US$3 billion over five years. The radar will provide defence against missile threats and air traffic control capability.
Under the latest $677 million contract, the US Navy will receive seven additional radars, taking the total number of radars under contract for procurement to 38.
The US Navy has been integrating the radars into its surface fleet beginning with the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Jack H Lucas (DDG 125) commissioned in October 2023.
The USS Richard M McCool Jr. (LPD 29) is the second ship with the system and the first to deploy the (V)2 variant. It was delivered to the US Navy on 11 April following successful completion of builder’s and acceptance trials in the Gulf of Mexico.
The SPY-6 family of radars has been projected to be deployed on 65 US Navy ships over the next 10 years to defend against air, surface and ballistic threats.
Shephard noted when reporting the commissioning of USS Jack H. Lucas that it involved the introduction of a host of new capabilities that would become operational at sea for the first time. Among these developments has been that the AN/SPY-6(V)1 can simultaneously conduct Ballistic Missile Defence while also tracking aircraft and surface vessels with a longer detection range compared to previous radar systems.
The capability has provided the US Navy with further offensive capability by offering more time to react to threats and enabling more offensive missiles to be used in the ships’ vertical launch system cells.
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Could compact submarines become part of future naval warfare?]()
Could compact submarines become part of future naval warfare?
Low-profile submarines can provide diverse advantages to navies including improved mobility and flexibility.
-
![Houthis intensify attacks against vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden]()
Houthis intensify attacks against vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden
The rebel group has been using uncrewed surface vessels, UAVs and missiles to target ships.
-
![How adverse weather conditions affect autonomous USV navigation]()
How adverse weather conditions affect autonomous USV navigation
Significant advancements and ongoing challenges in the development of autonomous navigation for uncrewed systems have highlighted the complex interplay between human oversight and technological capability.
-
![Exail completes trial of new large long-endurance USV]()
Exail completes trial of new large long-endurance USV
The DriX O-16 uncrewed surface vessel (USV) is dual-use, can conduct operations for up to 30 days with an autonomy of 3,500nm and can deploy multiple payloads and subsea assets.
