Raytheon Missiles & Defense (RMD) has secured a contract to continue the production of AN/SPY-6(V) air and missile defence radars for the US Navy.

The contract has an estimated value of $423m.

It is the first option exercised under the actual hardware, production and sustainment contract awarded by the Naval Sea Systems Command in March this year.

The original contract has a ceiling value of $3.16bn over a period of five years, with additional four option years. If all the options are exercised, work is expected to continue until 2028.

Raytheon Missiles & Defence Naval Power president Kim Ernzen said: “SPY-6 is the premiere surface naval radar in the world, and contracts like this ensure sailors across the fleet will be equipped with the information, tracking and detection it provides.

“SPY-6 radar arrays have already been delivered to multiple ships with installation ongoing.”

The radars produced under the contract will be equipped on seven different types of US Navy ships, including amphibious ships, the Arleigh Burke-class Flight III destroyers and aircraft carriers.

The company has already completed the installation of SPY-6 radar on the US Navy’s future USS Jack H Lucas (DDG 125), a Flight III destroyer.

Raytheon’s AN/SPY-6(V) radar is capable to simultaneously protect a warship from cruise missile, ballistic missile, hostile aircraft and surface ship attacks.

Compared to the traditional radar, the SPY-6 variant of radar will provide range of advantages including increased sensitivity, improved detection range and more precise discrimination.