Raytheon has been awarded a multi-year contract for delivery of array, navy / search protect, yellow-1 (AN/SPY-1) radar transmitters and MK99 fire control systems to the US Navy.
The systems delivered under the $406m contract are expected to support the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (ABMD) system, which serves as the shield of the US Navy Fleet.
Both AN/SPY-1 radar and MK99 represent critical components of the weapon system, and perform the search, track and missile guidance functions.
Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems business seapower capability systems vice-president Kevin Peppe said: "Through our long-standing role on the AEGIS programme, we continue to build on our core radar expertise, consistently delivering reliable and highly-capable components to support the mission needs of naval fleets."
The number of systems ordered and the contract’s delivery schedule remain undisclosed.
Representing the primary air and surface radar of Aegis system, the AN/SPY-1 is a multifunctional, passive electronically-scanned radar, designed to simultaneously perform search, track and missile guidance functions with a capability of more than 100 targets.
Besides controlling the loading and arming of the selected weapon, and the continuous wave illuminating radar, the MK-99 FCS also controls the target illumination for the terminal guidance of ship launched SM-2 anti-air missiles.
Around 141 AN/SPY-1 and 351 MK99 systems have been delivered to date by Raytheon in support of Aegis system development.
The systems are currently installed aboard the US Navy’s cruisers and destroyers fleet, Japanese Kongo-class destroyers, Spanish F-100 Alvaro de Bazan-class frigates, as well as the Republic of Korea’s KDX-111 King Sejong the Great-class destroyers.
In addition, the AN/SPY-1 radar is scheduled to be deployed onboard the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) future Hobart-class Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD).
Image: the AN/SPY-1 radar antennas installed on the front and starboard side of the superstructure of USS Lake Erie. Photo: courtesy of US Navy.
