RTX's Raytheon to Build Defensive Microwave Antenna Systems for U.S. Military
December 28, 2023 | RTXEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Raytheon, an RTX business, will design, build and test two high-power microwave antenna systems that will use directed energy to defeat airborne threats at the speed of light. The systems are designed to be rugged and transportable for front-line deployment.
Under the three-year, $31.3 million contract from the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, Raytheon will deliver prototype systems to the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force as part of the Directed Energy Front-line Electromagnetic Neutralization and Defeat (DEFEND) program.
"Non-kinetic defense systems are a key part of America's national defense strategy," said Colin Whelan, president of Advanced Technology at Raytheon. "The new iterations of Raytheon's high-power microwave systems are cost-effective and reliable solutions that operate at the speed of light – enabling our warfighters to defend against faster and more maneuverable threats."
Raytheon has been a leader in the use of high-power microwaves for nearly 80 years. The new HPM prototype systems build on Raytheon's decades of experience developing capabilities like the Counter-Electronic High Power Microwave Extended Range Air Base Defense, known as CHIMERA.
Work on this contract is being conducted in Tucson, Arizona in partnership with the U.S. Air Force Research Lab, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division and the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Prototypes are expected to be delivered in fiscal years 2024 and 2026.
Suggested Items
Japan’s OHISAMA Project Aims to Beam Solar Power from Space This Year
07/14/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamJapan could be on the cusp of making history with its OHISAMA project in its quest to become the first country to transmit solar power from space to Earth, The Volt reported.
OSI Systems Receives $34 Million Contract for Cargo and Vehicle Inspection Systems
07/11/2025 | BUSINESS WIREOSI Systems, Inc. announced that its Security division has been awarded a contract worth approximately $34 million by an international customer.
OSI Systems Lands $17 Million Order for Cargo and Vehicle Inspection Systems
07/07/2025 | BUSINESS WIREOSI Systems, Inc. announced that its Security division received an order valued at approximately $17 million from an international customer for cargo and vehicle inspection systems.
KYOCERA AVX Releases New 3DB Hybrid Couplers
07/04/2025 | PRNewswireKYOCERA AVX, a leading global manufacturer of advanced electronic components engineered to accelerate technological innovation and build a better future, released a new line of integrated thin film (ITF) hybrid couplers designed to facilitate the continued evolution of high-frequency wireless systems in industrial, automotive, telecommunications, and telemetry applications.
Driving Innovation: Direct Imaging vs. Conventional Exposure
07/01/2025 | Simon Khesin -- Column: Driving InnovationMy first camera used Kodak film. I even experimented with developing photos in the bathroom, though I usually dropped the film off at a Kodak center and received the prints two weeks later, only to discover that some images were out of focus or poorly framed. Today, every smartphone contains a high-quality camera capable of producing stunning images instantly.