Raytheon to increase AN/SPY-6(V) radars production to boost surveillance capability of U.S. Navy warships.

According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense on June 6, 2025, Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a division of RTX, has been awarded a $646,519,738 fixed-price incentive modification to a previously awarded contract for the continued production of the AN/SPY-6(V) family of naval radar systems. This significant award follows an earlier $536.75 million contract issued on May 30, 2025, for additional radar production and support services, bringing the total recent investment to over $1.18 billion. These back-to-back contracts mark a robust commitment by the U.S. Navy to enhance its surface fleet’s sensor capabilities and extend the technological edge to international partners such as Germany.
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The AN/SPY-6 radar installed on a U.S. Navy surface combatant provides enhanced air and missile threat detection through modular gallium nitride-based radar arrays designed for scalable integration across multiple ship classes. (Picture source: Raytheon)

The May 30, 2025, contract is a follow-on to the Integration and Production Support agreement and encompasses not only radar deliveries but also a full package of engineering support, crew training, shipboard installation, integration, testing, and continuous software upgrades. Of particular note is the inclusion of Germany under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, with 28.6% of the contract value allocated for the provision of SPY-6 systems to equip the upcoming F127 air defense frigates, co-developed with Norway. These next-generation vessels are in the advanced design phase, supported by a €44.5 million allocation from Berlin to integrate the AEGIS combat management system.

At the core of this strategic effort is the AN/SPY-6 radar series, which represents the most advanced and modular naval radar system ever fielded by the United States. Developed under the Navy’s Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) program, the AN/SPY-6 radar family is built on a foundation of Radar Modular Assemblies (RMAs), each measuring 61 x 61 x 61 cm and composed of 144 gallium nitride (GaN) transmit/receive modules. Each RMA acts as a fully functional radar unit. This allows the radar system to be configured in a scalable architecture tailored to various ship classes and mission requirements, providing unmatched adaptability across the fleet. The modularity also simplifies field maintenance, as individual RMAs can be swapped without taking the full system offline.

The AN/SPY-6 radar series operates in the E/F band (2–4 GHz), offering an ideal balance for both long-range surveillance and high-resolution target tracking. Its integration of digital beamforming technology enables simultaneous and continuous tracking of a vast number of aerial, surface, and ballistic missile threats, with improved resistance to electronic jamming and interference. Unlike legacy systems that must switch modes between different mission types, SPY-6 can operate in a multi-mission environment with no compromise in performance, offering concurrent detection, engagement support, and guidance across all domains.

There are four main configurations of the SPY-6 radar family, each optimized for different naval platforms. The AN/SPY-6(V)1, designed for the DDG 51 Flight III destroyers, features four fixed radar faces, each incorporating 37 RMAs. This variant delivers a 360-degree coverage capability with exponentially greater range, target discrimination, and engagement support compared to its predecessor, the AN/SPY-1D(V). The AN/SPY-6(V)2 variant, fitted with a single rotating array composed of 9 RMAs, is designed for LPD-class amphibious transport dock ships, offering enhanced self-defense and situational awareness. The AN/SPY-6(V)3 is configured with three fixed arrays of 9 RMAs each, intended for large-deck platforms such as aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, ensuring constant 360-degree tracking. Finally, the AN/SPY-6(V)4, featuring 24 RMAs per array, is set to replace aging radars aboard DDG 51 Flight IIA destroyers. This variant delivers near-parity performance with the (V)1 configuration and significantly extends the service life and capability of existing naval assets.

In addition to its exceptional scalability, the SPY-6 radar system integrates seamlessly with the AEGIS Combat System, forming the cornerstone of the Navy's Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) strategy. It enhances operational efficiency by processing vast amounts of data for real-time target detection, classification, and engagement coordination. The radar’s advanced GaN semiconductors ensure higher power density, improved cooling efficiency, and superior reliability, making it ideally suited for sustained operations in high-threat, electromagnetically contested environments.

As of mid-2025, two U.S. Navy vessels are already operational with SPY-6 radars installed, and three additional ships are currently undergoing various stages of radar integration and systems testing. Over the next decade, more than 60 U.S. Navy surface ships are scheduled to be equipped with variants of the SPY-6 radar, covering a wide range of mission profiles and vessel classes. This rollout supports the Navy’s broader goal of achieving a common sensor infrastructure across its future surface combatant fleet.

Germany’s adoption of the SPY-6 radar under the FMS framework highlights the growing international demand for high-performance maritime sensors capable of addressing emerging threats. The system will be installed aboard the F127 air defense frigates, a new class of ships being co-developed by Germany and Norway. These ships are still in the design phase, and the radars will be delivered alongside integration of the AEGIS system, bringing NATO-wide interoperability and enhanced area defense capabilities to the Baltic and North Atlantic theaters.

The current SPY-6 production and support contracts are expected to conclude by May 2026. However, built-in contract provisions could extend deliveries and services through May 2030, potentially raising the total program value to $2.8 billion. These milestones firmly establish the AN/SPY-6 radar as a critical enabler of next-generation maritime situational awareness and defense. Its unmatched scalability, digital integration, and modular upgrade paths make it not only a key sensor for today’s fleet, but also a platform engineered to evolve and counter the advanced threats of the future.