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Raytheon introduces SPY-5 radar
September 8th, 2009 | DSEI 2009 | Posted by Antonie Boessenkool
LONDON – Raytheon presented its new SPY-5 ship-based radar, still under development, at the DSEi show Tuesday.
The radar is an advanced phased-array X-band multi-function radar for naval surface combatants using features already available on other radar systems from Raytheon and other manufacturers, though in a smaller and more affordable system, Raytheon said. It can track multiple targets simultaneously, illuminate up to four targets at once and enables the “full performance” of the Evolved SeaSparrow missile, Raytheon said.
“It’s very effective for low-flying targets and quite effective as a horizon-search radar. The fact that it’s a multi-function radar allows it to do that function while it’s tracking targets or missile engagements and also while it’s doing terminal eliminations,” said Rick Wayshville, a senior engineering programs manager at Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems.
“Traditional systems today are typically mechanically-directed systems,” Wayshville said. The SPY-5 system would replace those mechanical directors with a passive-array system, with about half the weight of similar systems. Wayshville declined to name a price range, but said it would be no more expensive than similar systems.
It would be suitable for “any ship pretty much,” including carriers, off-shore patrol vessels and frigates, he said.
Raytheon has funded development of the SPY-5 internally, in part with the intention of exporting it, Wayshville said.
“We see it as having major market potential,” he said. “It’s competitively priced. More and more often, we are finding that navies around the world are strapped financially.
“The components that you’ll see that we’ve used in this system are fairly simple components. We’re reusing parts that have already been implemented internationally, successfully, very effectively. Ensuring that we have no issues with the ability to market the system internationally has been important to us.”
Raytheon began the SPY-5 development a year and a half ago, Wayshville said. The company expects the full system to finish development in the latter part of 2010, he said.