The U.S. Missile Defense Agency has received the first AN/TPY-2 advanced radar system to defend against next-generation threats.
The new AN/TPY-2 system was built by Raytheon and comes equipped with a complete Gallium Nitride, or GaN, populated array, giving it greater sensitivity to missiles and expanding surveillance capacity while supporting the U.S.‘s hypersonic defense mission, according to the company.
“This is the most advanced version of AN/TPY-2 that Raytheon has built, leveraging years of investment and innovation to produce superior capability at a lower cost to the U.S. armed forces,” Sam Deneke, president of air and space defense systems at Raytheon, said in a statement. “As demand increases for missile defense of the homeland, the AN/TPY-2 radar is ready to meet the mission.”
While the MDA has had access to the AN/TPY-2 system for years, the latest version is the first time the agency has received a radar with a GaN populated array. The inclusion of the GaN signals a clear focus on hypersonic missiles
Raytheon said the new radar system works within the X-band of the electromagnetic spectrum, making it easier for the system to distinguish between targets and debris. The latest version is also reportedly protected against electronic threats with its CX6 software.
The delivery of the AN/TPY-2 system comes as the U.S. and its defense partners work overtime to update existing missile defense systems to defend against emerging hypersonic threats from China and Russia.
Most of the U.S.’s missile defense systems are set up to counter traditional ballistic missiles, which are fired in predictable trajectories. Alternatively, hypersonic missiles fly much faster and can maneuver during the glide phase of their flight.
Last month, the U.S. Army made moves to modernize domestic missile defense systems by approving the Lower-Tier Air and Missile Defense System for low-rate production. The Raytheon-built system also includes the GaN technology and will serve as the new tracking sensor for the aging Patriot air and missile defense system.
