Raytheon integrates SPY-6 radar on USS Jack H. Lucas.

According to a press release published by Raytheon on June 11, 2021, Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a Raytheon Technologies business, is working with shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries in Pascagoula, Mississippi, to integrate four SPY-6 radar arrays onto the USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125). The ship is the first in a class of guided-missile destroyers known as Flight III.
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SPY-6 advanced naval radar used to perform air and missile defense on seven classes of ships. (Picture source: Twitter account Elma Electronic)

SPY-6 is a family of advanced naval radars that can track enemy jets and cruise and ballistic missiles while resisting interference, like noise from rough seas. It can see farther and react faster than any deployed radars, and it can more accurately discriminate between threats and non-threats.

Raytheon wrapped up production for the USS Jack H. Lucas and delivered the last SPY-6 radar array to the shipyard in October 2020; installation and checkout are underway.

While design, production and integration are key, so is sustainment. SPY-6 brings several advantages on that front. It uses 70 percent fewer parts than the existing system, and technicians can swap out parts on radar arrays using only two tools. Continual, long-term software enhancements will add capability throughout the radar’s life.

Those enhancements will come as a result of Raytheon Missiles & Defense’s use of an agile software development process that allows the rapid development, testing and delivery of capabilities to the Navy.

The SPY-6 family of advanced naval radars will be installed on destroyers, large-deck amphibious ships, aircraft carriers and frigates.

The radar is built with individual building blocks called radar modular assemblies, which stack together to form customizable arrays that support ships of all sizes and missions. The assemblies, called RMAs, drive down operation and sustainment costs – something the Navy made clear it wanted in its next-generation radar.

The USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) will be powered by four LM2500 General Electrics Marine Gas Turbines. The ship will be able to reach a top speed of 30 knots. The armament of the ship will include one 32 cells, one 64 cell Mark 41 Vertical Launching System, 96 × RIM-66 SM-2, BGM-109 Tomahawk, RIM-162 ESSM, or RUM-139 VL-Asroc, missiles, one 5 in (130 mm)/62 naval gun, two 25 mm Mk 38 automatic cannons, four .50 cal. machine guns, two Mk 46 triple torpedo tubes, and one 20 mm Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapon System).