Air Force chooses Raytheon to build next-generation radar to protect Marines from planes and missiles
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass., 8 Oct. 2014. Radar experts at the Raytheon Co. are beginning full-scale development of a portable search radar system intended to detect, identify and track enemy missiles as well as manned and unmanned aircraft.
Officials of the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., announced a potential $71.8 million contract this week to the Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems segment in Sudbury, Mass., to begin engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) of the Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar (3DELRR).
In its selection for the 3DELRR program pronounced "three-dealer," Raytheon prevailed over other U.S. top-tier radar houses competing for this contract, including Lockheed Martin Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp.
The 3DELRR radar is to replace the Air Force's Northrop Grumman AN/TPS-75 transportable 3-D passive electronically scanned array air search radar for enabling U.S. and allied invasion forces to protect themselves from airborne threats after establishing beachheads.
Related: U.S. Air Force selects Sensis, Raytheon, Moog team for 3DELRR program
Raytheon's 3DELRR system is a C-band gallium nitride (GaN)-based radar. GaN technology helps increase the radar's range, sensitivity, and search capabilities, while operating in C-band offers increased flexibility because that portion of the spectrum is relatively uncongested, Raytheon officials say.
3DELRR will be the principal Air Force long-range, ground-based sensor for detecting, identifying, tracking, and reporting aerial targets for the Joint Force Air Component Commander through the Theater Air Control System, Air Force officials say.
The Raytheon 3DELRR initial $19.5 million contract involves system EMD, low-rate initial production (LRIP), and interim contractor support (ICS). The contract is for purchase of three radar systems, and has options worth about $71.8 million for three additional radar systems.
The 3DELRR will provide the Air Force control and reporting center with real-time data to display air activity, and will provide warning and target information.
The system also will provide operators with a precise, real-time air picture to provide air traffic control services to individual aircraft across a wide range of environmental and operational conditions.
On this contract Raytheon will do the work in Sudbury, Mass., and should be finished by October 2018. For more information contact Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems online at www.raytheon.com, or the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at www.wpafb.af.mil/aflcmc.
John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
