The radars will be part of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, which is designed to detect incoming ballistic missiles.
Specifically, Raytheon Missiles & Defense – one of the four business segments of the newly-formed Raytheon Technologies – has received the contract. It is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona.
“These highly capable X-band radars are the sharpest eyes in the global missile defense system,” said Bryan Rosselli, vp of Strategic Missile Defense at Raytheon Missiles & Defense. “The addition of GaN technology delivers capability for threats to be detected, tracked and discriminated with improved radar reliability.”
The company says the mobile AN/TPY-2 missile defense radar uses X-band to track and discriminate ballistic missile threats – that it can distinguish between missiles and non-threats such as space launch debris.The radar system operates in two modes: forward-based mode — which detects ballistic missiles and identifies any lethal objects as they rise after launch — and terminal mode as part of the THAAD system, which guides interceptors toward a descending missile’s warhead.Of the 14 AN/TPY-2 radars produced, seven are fielded as a part of US-operated THAAD systems, five operate in forward-based mode for the US and two are part of foreign military sales.
The company announcement states that the contract is part of a foreign military sale to Saudi Arabia.
Source: This news is taken from www.electronicsweekly.com
