The US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) has awarded a $113m contract to Harris Corporation to modernise its primary defence radar AN/SPS-48E installed on-board US Navy aircraft carriers, large deck amphibious assault ships.

Awarded under the navy’s radar obsolescence and availability recovery (ROAR) programme, the contract includes an initial $39m order and three one-year options.

The contract aims to advance capabilities and increase fleet readiness to address emerging threats and reduce the navy’s cost of radar ownership, while positioning Harris to continue supporting upgrade through 2050.

"The SPS-48 radar provides an essential surveillance capability for the US Navy, which faces growing and increasingly more complex threats."

Under the four-year contract, the navy’s primary long-range, three-dimensional defence radar will be upgraded to the more advanced SPS-48G version, which uses a modern solid-state transmitter.

Harris Electronic Warfare business unit president Rich Sorelle said: "The SPS-48 radar provides an essential surveillance capability for the US Navy, which faces growing and increasingly more complex threats.

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"The radar is expected to remain in operation through the year 2050, and Harris is committed to ensuring it remains effective and dependable throughout its service life."

The AN/SPS-48G radar set is comprised of 30 individual units that combine to form functional areas such as transmitter, receiver / processor, antenna, and ancillary, according to the US Navy.

The radar is used to find full volumetric detection data for ships self defence systems and the cooperative engagement capability (CEC), air intercept control, anti-ship cruise missile detection including low elevation and high diver targets, backup aircraft marshalling, and the new hazardous weather detection and display capability.