Raytheon's Air & Missile Defense Radar Successfully Executes First Ballistic Missile Test
April 3, 2017 | Raytheon CompanyEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Raytheon Company's AN/SPY-6(V) Air and Missile Defense Radar searched for, acquired and tracked a ballistic missile test target during the radar's first dedicated Ballistic Missile Defense exercise at the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), Kauai, Hawaii. This result followed a series of successes for AN/SPY-6, including the tracking of integrated air and missile defense targets of opportunity, satellites and aircraft.
"We remain on track to deliver an unprecedented capability to the Fleet. The live testing we've been doing here at PMRF continues to demonstrate the maturity of the hardware and software and the performance of the overall system. The radar performed exactly as we expected it to during this mission – all systems were green," said Raytheon's Tad Dickenson, director of the Air and Missile Defense Radar program. "These successes are significant achievements and a testament to the expertise and commitment of this Government and Raytheon team."
"This marked a historic moment for the Navy. It's the first time a ballistic missile target was tracked by a wideband digital beamforming radar," said U.S. Navy Captain Seiko Okano, Major Program Manager for Above Water Sensors, Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems "AN/SPY-6 is on track for delivery to DDG 51 Flight III."
Since installation at PMRF in May 2016, AMDR has tracked targets of increasing complexity, demonstrating that the radar is meeting its performance requirements. In October 2016, AN/SPY-6 first tracked multiple satellites, hundreds of miles above Earth, from search and acquisition through their orbits. In the following month, the radar executed its first integrated air and missile defense track by simultaneously tracking aircraft and satellites. Most recently, in conjunction with a Standard Missile 3 Block IIA SFTM-01 flight test, AN/SPY-6 executed an engineering exercise where it searched for, acquired and tracked a medium range ballistic missile target, from launch through flight.
These are the most recent milestones as the Navy's new radar advances on schedule through Engineering and Manufacturing Development. Soon to transition to Low-Rate Initial Production, AN/SPY-6(V) remains on track for delivery for the first DDG 51 Flight III destroyer.
About AN/SPY-6(V) AMDR
AN/SPY-6(V) provides greater capability – in range, sensitivity and discrimination accuracy – than currently deployed radars, increasing battlespace, situational awareness and reaction time to effectively counter current and future threats. It is the first scalable radar, built with Radar Modular Assemblies - radar building blocks. Each RMA, roughly 2' x 2' x 2' in size, is a standalone radar that can be grouped to build any size radar aperture, from a single RMA to configurations larger than currently fielded radars. The U.S. Navy's new Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar leverages the highly-scalable design and mature technologies of AN/SPY-6 in a scaled nine-RMA configuration to meet the mission requirements of carriers and amphibious ships. The commonality – in both hardware and software – with AN/SPY-6 offers a host of advantages, including maintenance; training; logistics; and lifecycle support.
About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2016 sales of $24 billion and 63,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 95 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5ITM products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries.
Suggested Items
Neways, Teledyne FLIR Sign Frame Agreement for Ramp-up of Defense Business
06/21/2025 | NewaysNeways, the global innovator in mission-critical technology for leading semicon, defense & mobility, and connectivity companies, has signed a frame agreement with Teledyne FLIR. Teledyne FLIR is a global leader in thermal imaging infrared cameras that are applied in government & defense, industrial, and commercial markets.
RTX, the Singapore Economic Development Board Sign MOU Outlining 10-year Growth Roadmap
06/20/2025 | RTXRTX and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which outlines a 10-year roadmap to further long-term strategic collaboration in Singapore.
Lockheed Martin Delivers Eighth U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Battery
06/20/2025 | Lockheed MartinLockheed Martin has delivered the Minimum Engagement Package (MEP) of the eighth Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to the U.S. government.
Industry Partners Launch Joint Venture Company Edgewing to Deliver Next Generation Combat Aircraft
06/20/2025 | BAE SystemsA new chapter in global defence collaboration began with the official launch of Edgewing, a joint venture bringing together international aerospace leaders BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy) and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. Ltd. (Japan).
Saab Receives Order from Sweden on Giraffe 4A Radar Systems
06/20/2025 | SaabSaab has received an order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) of Giraffe 4A radar systems with associated services to the Swedish Armed Forces. The order value is approximately SEK 1.4 billion with deliveries 2026-2027.