Navy asks Leonardo DRS to build shipboard missile-defense radar systems to counter anti-ship missiles
WASHINGTON – U.S. Navy missile-defense experts are asking the Leonardo DRS Naval Electronics segment in Largo, Fla., to provide AN/SPQ-9B shipboard anti-ship missile defense (ASMD) radar systems to help protect U.S. Navy surface warships from enemy anti-ship missiles.
Officials of the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington announced a $66.2 million order to DRS Laurel last month to build AN/SPQ-9B radar systems and support equipment.
The AN/SPQ-9B is an X-band pulse-Doppler frequency-agile radar that scans out to the horizon and performs simultaneous and automatic air and surface target detection and tracking of low flying anti-ship cruise missiles, surface threats, low-and-slow-flying aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and helicopters.
The missile-defense radar is designed for the littoral environment in harbors and along coastlines, rejects clutter, and has a low false track rate in the littorals and in other high-clutter environments. Its design makes the most of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and non-developmental item (NDI) equipment.
The unattended radar consists of four air-cooled below-deck cabinets, a motor generator, and one above-deck antenna unit designed for low-radar-cross-section reflectivity appropriate for stealth ship design.
The AN/SPQ-9B is for aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, cruisers, Coast Guard maritime security cutters, Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and allied cruisers and destroyers.
Above decks, the radar uses a mechanically rotating, electronically stabilized antenna. The 1,500-pound antenna consists of dual planar arrays mounted back-to-back, each connected to independent transmitters and receivers. Below decks, the radar consists of processor, receiver/exciter, and transmitter cabinets; radar set control; and motor generator.
The processor cabinet performs signal processing, tracking, and interface functions. The receiver/exciter has three receivers, and generates system frequencies and clocks. The transmitter cabinet receives the RF pulses from the receiver/exciter and amplifies them for output to the antenna.
The radar set control provides remote control and monitoring of radar operation in the ship's combat information center. The output of each receiver is converted to digital baseband I-Q data for Doppler processing in the processor cabinet. The system has an auxiliary antenna for electronic counter-countermeasures.
The AN/SPQ-9B radar has digital interfaces to the Aegis combat systems, the MK 34 gun weapon system (GWS), the MK 48 GWS, the Cooperative Engagement Capability, and ship self defense system.
On this order DRS Laurel will do the work in Largo, Fla.; and Johnstown, Pa., and should be finished by May 2027. Exercising all options would extend the contract through July 2030. For more information contact Leonardo DRS Naval Electronics online at https://www.leonardodrs.com/locations/naval-electronics-laurel-technologies-largo-fl/, or Naval Sea Systems Command at www.navsea.navy.mil.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
