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Raytheon Radars Play Key Role in Missile Defense Test

Written by thomas · Filed Under Aeronautics News 

July 23, 2008

thomas

TEWKSBURY, Mass., July 21, 2008 /PRNewswire/ — Three missile defense
radars built by Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) performed successfully in the
latest flight test conducted by the Missile Defense Agency July 18.

“The FTX-03 mission successfully demonstrated the integration of
missile defense sensors required to support an interceptor engagement,”
said Pete Franklin, vice president, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems
National & Theater Security Programs. “Raytheon’s radars operated with
other Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) components and collected
valuable mission data, significantly reducing risk for future flight
tests.”

During the mission, which demonstrated a simulated intercept of a live
target, the AN/TPY-2 radar at Juneau, Alaska, acquired a boosting target
launched from Kodiak, Alaska, using a cue based on data generated from
satellite sensors. The AN/TPY-2 tracked the target during its initial boost
phase through ballistic flight, cued the Upgraded Early Warning Radar
(UEWR) at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., and demonstrated interoperability
with multiple Ballistic Missile Defense System elements.

The UEWR successfully acquired, tracked and classified the target
system, providing data to the GMD system and achieving all mission
objectives.

The Raytheon-built X-Band Radar (XBR), aboard the Boeing-developed
Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX) vessel, acquired the target complex via a cue
formulated from the AN/TPY-2 and UEWR radar data and provided track and
discrimination data to the GMD system, which directed the simulated
engagement.

The XBR success in this mission was critical preparation for the FTG-05
flight test to be conducted later this year in which XBR will be the
primary radar for all engagement decisions.

Raytheon Company is the prime contractor for the AN/TPY-2 radar, which
provides a common capability enabling both a forward-based mode and a
terminal mode in support of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. The
AN/TPY-2 is a phased array, capable of search, threat detection,
classification, discrimination and precision tracking at extremely long
ranges.

Developed by Raytheon, the UEWRs add missile defense capabilities to
the Raytheon-developed PAVE PAWS and Ballistic Missile Early Warning System
radars, while continuing their missile warning and space surveillance
missions. XBR, built by Raytheon Company, provides missile tracking,
discrimination and hit assessment to the GMD portion of the BMDS.

The Boeing Company is the prime contractor for the GMD element of the
BMDS and the SBX and UEWR at Beale Air Force Base.

Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon’s leader in Joint Battlespace
Integration providing affordable, integrated solutions to a broad
international and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile
Defense Agency, the U.S. Armed Forces and the Department of Homeland
Security.

Raytheon Company, with 2007 sales of $21.3 billion, is a technology
leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government
markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 86
years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems
integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and
command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a
broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham,
Mass., Raytheon employs 72,000 people worldwide.

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