Explore the breakthrough developments as Raytheon secures a $7 million contract to propel the advancement and evaluation of the GhostEye MR radar. Delve into the radar’s critical role within the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) and its journey to revolutionize modern air defense systems. Discover the innovative technology behind the GhostEye MR radar and its potential to reshape the landscape of defense strategies.
Raytheon, a subsidiary of RTX, has been awarded a significant contract valued at $7 million aimed at advancing and evaluating the GhostEye MR radar, a sophisticated medium-range sensor. This radar is specifically designed for integration into the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), and this contract signifies a pivotal moment as it marks the radar’s initial government contracts. The GhostEye MR radar, part of Raytheon’s GhostEye family of sensors, was developed through independent internal research and development investments.
The allocated funding from these contracts will play a crucial role in furthering the development of the GhostEye MR radar and facilitating operational assessment activities. These assessments are set to take place at the White Sands Missile Range later this year. Tom Laliberty, President of Land & Air Defense Systems at Raytheon, highlighted the growing global demand for the capabilities of the GhostEye MR radar. He expressed his enthusiasm for collaborating with the Department of Defense (DoD), the Air Force, and Kongsberg to showcase the radar’s efficacy against an array of emerging threats.
The impending evaluation at the White Sands Missile Range is geared towards thoroughly assessing the operational performance of the GhostEye MR radar. This assessment phase will involve examining the radar’s ability to provide valuable surveillance cues and seamlessly integrate with the proven NASAMS air defense system. Building upon the success of a prior air base air defense experiment in Andøya, Norway, conducted by the Strategic Developmental Planning & Experimentation (SDPE) office, the upcoming operational assessment is poised to expand on the capabilities exhibited in Andøya. This expansion will be realized by integrating the GhostEye MR radar with NASAMS’ Fire Distribution Center (FDC) through the U.S. Air Force’s relevant command and control infrastructure.
The financial support for these endeavors is derived from a contract provided by the U.S. Air Force Research Lab’s SDPE office and the Rapid Prototyping Program (RPP) under the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Introduced in 2021, the GhostEye MR radar is a remarkable addition to Raytheon’s GhostEye family of sensors. It has been tailor-made to serve as an advanced medium-range multi-mission radar specifically engineered for NASAMS. This innovative radar system significantly extends the coverage area in terms of both range and altitude, thereby enhancing the overall defended-area capabilities of the NASAMS system. Notably, the GhostEye MR radar shares common features with the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS), which is being concurrently developed by Raytheon for the U.S. Army.
