Navy taps Raytheon for radar concept studies

Raytheon Co. will perform concept studies that the Navy will use to resolve gaps in its air and missile defense radar (AMDR) capabilities under a $9.9 million contract.

The concept studies are for a radar suite that would combine S-band radar, X-band radar and a radar suite controller.

Under the contract, Raytheon’s Integrated Defense Systems unit will focus on the S-band component and the radar suite controller, company officials said August 3. Specific requirements include a conceptual design, systems engineering studies and analyses, and a technology development plan.

A key requirement of AMDR is that the system must be capable of being deployed to multiple ship platforms. The technology initially supports the Navy’s Future Surface Combatant program. Other ship classes, such as the next-generation cruiser, are scheduled for future support.

In the final system envisioned, the S-band component of AMDR would provide volume search, tracking, ballistic missile defense and missile communications, while the X-band component would address horizon search, precision tacking, missile communications and terminal illumination. The radar suite controller ensures that both radars perform in a coordinated manner.

In its concept plan, Raytheon IDS will address commonality and scalability challenges for AMDR in a way that would deliver advanced capabilities while also reducing costs across the fleet, company officials said. The work will be performed in Sudbury, Mass.