RTX awarded $677 million contract for US Navy's SPY-6 radar systems.

According to a PR published by RTX on June 10, 2024, Raytheon has been awarded a $677 million contract by the U.S. Navy to continue producing AN/SPY-6(V) radar systems.
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US Navy's Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Jack H. Lucas. (Picture source: Dvids)

This contract represents the third option exercised under a March 2022 agreement, potentially valued at up to $3 billion over five years. The new contract will add seven more radars to the U.S. Navy's fleet, increasing the total number under procurement to 38.

The SPY-6 radar systems began integration into the Navy's surface fleet with the USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), commissioned in October 2023. The USS Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29) is the second ship to deploy the radar and the first to use the (V)2 variant.

Delivered to the Navy on April 11 after successful trials in the Gulf of Mexico, the SPY-6(V)2 radar enhances missile defense and provides air traffic control functions. The SPY-6 family is set for deployment on 65 U.S. Navy ships over the next decade.

About the SPY-6 radar systems

The SPY-6 family of radars, developed by Raytheon Technologies, focusing on integrated air and missile defense. These radars are engineered to detect and counter various threats, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic missiles, and hostile aircraft. They bring significant enhancements over legacy systems, such as improved detection range, sensitivity, and threat discrimination accuracy.

One of the key features of the SPY-6 radars is their modular construction, utilizing Radar Modular Assemblies (RMAs). Each RMA is a compact, self-contained unit that can be combined in various configurations to meet specific mission requirements. This modular approach makes the SPY-6 adaptable and scalable, allowing it to be tailored for different ship classes ranging from destroyers and aircraft carriers to smaller vessels like frigates.

The SPY-6 family includes several variants designed for different platforms. The SPY-6(V)1, intended for the DDG 51 Flight III destroyers, uses four array faces to provide continuous 360-degree coverage.

The SPY-6(V)2, also known as the Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar, is designed for amphibious assault ships and Nimitz-class carriers and features a single rotating array face. The SPY-6(V)3 variant is tailored for aircraft carriers, providing extensive coverage and advanced tracking capabilities, while the SPY-6(V)4 variant suits smaller vessels.

Despite its advancements, the development of the SPY-6 has faced challenges. Initial plans for a larger, more powerful radar for the CG(X) ships were abandoned due to high costs and design risks, leading to the adoption of the redesigned Arleigh Burke Flight III destroyers. There have also been concerns about the testing and evaluation processes, with delays in acquiring necessary materials for realistic at-sea testing.