The US Navy has completed the installation of new SPY-6(V)2 enterprise air surveillance radar (EASR) antenna on the San Antonio-class ship LPD 29.
The new milestone was announced by the US Naval Sea Systems Command on 9 February.
LPD 29 is the 13th and the final Flight I San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock vessel, named Richard M McCool Jr, currently under construction at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division.
The successful installation of SPY-6(V)2 radar antenna, which was completed on 16 January, on LPD 29 further marks the completion of all the scheduled EASR system’s deliveries for LPD 17-class ships.
This will be the first vessel class to install and activate this S-band, rotating radar variant.
The SPY-6(V)2 radar system has been designed to bring hardware and software variant commonality in the US Navy’s aircraft carrier and amphibious assault ships.
It features various incremental technology enhancements, along with improved engagement capabilities to increase the overall self-defence of the ships.
The EASR system will be an integral part of the future vessel’s integrated Ship Self-Defense System.
Related work was supported by the Programme Executive Office (PEO) Ships, which is the US Department of Defense’s largest acquisition organisations.
US Navy PEO Ships Amphibious Warfare Programme manager captain Cedric McNeal said: “The progress made is a testament to the collaboration across multiple organisations in bringing this next-generation radar to the LPD programme.
“The Navy and our industry partners look forward to systems activation and testing as LPD 29 continues on the path to sea trials later this year.”
Initial contract for the construction of LPD 29 was awarded to HII in 2018, followed by its keel-laying ceremony in 2019.
