Germany picks U.S. Raytheon’s advanced AN/SPY-6 radar for new F127 frigates.

Germany has chosen U.S. defense contractor Raytheon’s AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar for its upcoming F127-class frigates. The deal marks the first international sale of the U.S. Navy’s most advanced radar system, strengthening NATO’s maritime defenses.

ANDOVER, Mass., United States, October 8, 2025, 16:48 PM (CEST) - U.S.-based Company Raytheon confirmed on October 8, 2025, that Germany has officially selected the AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar system for integration onto its future F127 frigates under a proposed U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement. The move makes Germany the first international buyer of the radar, a core component of the U.S. Navy’s next-generation Aegis fleet. It matters because the deal enhances NATO’s shared maritime awareness and expands U.S. defense technology partnerships in Europe.
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The U.S. Raytheon AN/SPY-6(V)1 Radar, a multi-function, active, phased-array radar system, is designed to enhance the Navy’s capabilities for 21st-century challenges. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War)

The AN/SPY-6(V)1 is a highly modular, scalable active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar consisting of four fixed array faces, each composed of 37 Radar Modular Assemblies (RMAs). These RMAs, built from scalable Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based transmit/receive modules, enable full 360-degree surveillance with simultaneous air and ballistic missile defense, surface target tracking, and electronic warfare resilience. With its inherent multi-mission design, the SPY-6 significantly enhances the decision-making speed and threat response capabilities of any naval platform it equips.

Raytheon's deal with Berlin, still pending final FMS processing, includes not only the radar units themselves but also a comprehensive suite of integration and adaptation services to ensure compatibility with the German Navy’s forthcoming F127 platform. The F127-class, designed to replace the aging Brandenburg-class (F123), is expected to feature advanced signature reduction, extended range, and increased multi-domain combat capabilities. Raytheon's technical support will be critical in aligning the SPY-6 radar with the frigate’s unique architecture, including indigenous command and control systems.

Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon, emphasized the broader implications of the selection: “Germany’s selection of SPY-6 reaffirms the global confidence in the radar’s advanced capabilities and its critical role in enhancing naval defense. Integrating the radar on F127 frigates will provide the German Navy with a multi-mission solution that enables faster and more informed decision-making at sea.”

The F127 frigate program represents the next evolution in German surface combatants, with a design philosophy centered on network-centric warfare, integrated air and missile defense, and survivability in high-threat environments. These future vessels are expected to displace over 10,000 tons and will incorporate modular weapon systems, a flexible mission bay, and enhanced propulsion for greater endurance. By equipping the F127 with the AN/SPY-6(V)1, the German Navy will gain the ability to detect and track advanced aerial threats, including stealth aircraft, cruise missiles, and hypersonic weapons, while simultaneously conducting ballistic missile defense and supporting cooperative engagement with allied forces. The radar’s scalability and automation also reduce crew workload, making it a force multiplier for Germany’s high-end naval operations in both NATO-led missions and independent deployments.

Raytheon’s Radar Development Facility in Andover, Massachusetts, where the SPY-6 system is manufactured, remains a critical industrial node in the U.S. defense technology base. The 30,000-square-foot site combines high-throughput automated production with round-the-clock radar testing and calibration. This vertically integrated complex is one of the only facilities globally that can deliver GaN-based radar systems at scale with assured quality, enabling rapid export delivery without compromising U.S. Navy priorities.

With the U.S. Navy already committed to deploying SPY-6 across seven ship classes including Arleigh Burke Flight III destroyers, amphibious ships, and aircraft carriers, the radar is fast becoming the standard-bearer of 21st-century naval sensor technology. Germany’s decision aligns with a growing trend among NATO allies to harmonize with U.S. systems in order to bolster interoperability in increasingly contested maritime theaters.

While specific contract values and timelines remain undisclosed, sources within the German Defense Ministry suggest the first SPY-6-equipped F127 could be delivered in the early 2030s, with system-level testing expected to commence by 2028. The announcement follows Berlin’s recent efforts to deepen transatlantic defense cooperation and accelerate capability modernization under NATO’s Strategic Concept 2030 framework.

For the German Navy, acquiring SPY-6 offers not only a qualitative edge in sensor capability but also operational alignment with future U.S. Navy task forces, enabling tighter integration during multinational operations and shared early warning missions. For Raytheon, this deal opens a critical door to European naval markets, with other NATO fleets, particularly in the Netherlands and Norway, closely monitoring Germany’s integration roadmap.