RTX Raytheon's GhostEye® MR proves operational readiness during U.S. Air Force exercise
Sensor demonstrates critical air base air defense capability
Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, in partnership with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation (SDPE) office and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, demonstrated the operational performance and readiness of the GhostEye® MR advanced medium-range sensor for the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) during an extended exercise at White Sands Missile Range.
GhostEye MR expands NASAMS' combat-proven capabilities against enemy aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems, and cruise missile threats. The radar was designed and developed by Raytheon, primarily through internal research and development investments. During the recent exercise, GhostEye MR was successfully integrated with NASAMS' Air Defense Console and the Battlespace Command and Control Center (BC3), a command-and-control element used by the U.S. Air Force.
"This experiment showed that GhostEye MR is a viable sensor option for integrated air and missile defense," said Jim Simonds, U.S. Air Force Air Base Air Defense Program Manager at the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. "The radar clearly demonstrated its ability to be rapidly deployed and detect and track live targets precisely at longer ranges, providing increased standoff and decision-making time."
In a configuration designed as an air base air defense solution for the U.S. Air Force, all three system components communicated effectively, sharing information and relevant data during a live threat scenario. GhostEye MR provided a comprehensive air picture for the command-and-control system to determine whether a target was a threat and what response was required. Additionally, the radar supported simulated engagements and, with NASAMS, successfully defeated the targets.
"The team's success demonstrates that GhostEye MR can meet the needs of the U.S. Air Force," said Tom Laliberty, president of Land & Air Defense Systems at Raytheon. "Air bases around the world face a growing array of sophisticated airborne threats, and this exercise marked a significant step toward fielding an integrated capability for air base air defense."
This demonstration also builds on last year's successful air base air defense experiment in Andøya, Norway, that showcased NASAMS' ability to engage and intercept various aerial threats using multiple Raytheon missile types and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace's Fire Distribution Center.
In August of last year, Raytheon was awarded its first government contracts to advance development and assessment of GhostEye MR. A member of Raytheon's GhostEye family of sensors, GhostEye MR provides increased range and altitude coverage to expand the defended-area capabilities of NASAMS. The radar leverages commonality with the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor, or LTAMDS – currently advancing through development for the U.S. Army.
GhostEye
The GhostEye MR sensor is an advanced 360-degree surveillance and fire control radar designed for air and missile defense. It is produced by Raytheon and was first unveiled in October 2021.
The GhostEye MR is capable of detecting, tracking, and identifying a wide variety of threats, including cruise missiles, drones, fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, and even sophisticated long-range mass attacks. It can be used for multiple missions, such as integrated air and missile defense, counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations, and the defense of critical infrastructure like air bases.
One of the key features of the GhostEye MR is its use of active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar technology. AESA radars use a large number of small solid-state transmitters and receivers to electronically steer the radar beam, which allows them to provide 360-degree coverage and track multiple targets simultaneously. The GhostEye MR's AESA radar is also made from gallium nitride, which is a semiconductor material that allows for a stronger and more sensitive signal than traditional radar materials.
The GhostEye MR is also designed to be interoperable with other air defense systems, such as the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS). This means that it can be used to augment existing air defense networks and provide additional coverage against airborne threats.
The GhostEye MR is still under development, but it has already received funding from the U.S. Air Force and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Raytheon is currently planning to conduct an operational assessment of the radar at White Sands Missile Range later in 2024. If the assessment is successful, the GhostEye MR could be deployed to operational units as early as 2025.
Overall, the GhostEye MR is a promising new air defense radar that has the potential to significantly improve the ability of the U.S. military to track and defeat airborne threats.
Raytheon’s GhostEye Sensor Bolsters Air Defense Capabilities: Implications and Challenges
In a significant development for global air defense, Raytheon, operating under RTX (NYSE: RTX), in partnership with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation (SDPE) office and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, has demonstrated the efficiencies of its cutting-edge device, the GhostEye advanced medium-range sensor. This sensor was field-tested as part of a strategic initiative to verify its readiness and performance for the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS).
GhostEye Sensor: A New Era in Air Defense
The GhostEye sensor, envisioned to augment air defense capabilities, demonstrated its operational effectiveness at the White Sands Missile Range. This advancement is expected to address the escalating sophistication of airborne threats to air bases globally. The sensor was successfully integrated with the NASAMS’ Air Defense Console and the Battlespace Command and Control Center, enabling precise detection and tracking of live targets at extended ranges, thus providing a detailed air picture for threat assessment and coordinated responses.
NASAMS: The Vanguard of Air Defense
The NASAMS, which incorporates the GhostEye MR sensor, is a critical air defense system with combat-proven capabilities against a range of threats, including aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, and cruise missiles. The system, also common with the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) developed for the U.S. Army, reflects its adaptability and relevance in contemporary defense strategies.
The Challenges of Delivering NASAMS to Ukraine
The delivery of NASAMS air defense systems to Ukraine has encountered challenges, despite commitments and payments made by Canada. This delay has triggered concerns about Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, especially in the context of devastating air attacks launched by Russia. The ongoing dialogue between Canadian and U.S. partners underlines the complexities and uncertainties surrounding the delivery process.
Global Demand and Production Challenges
The rising global demand for advanced air defense systems, including NASAMS, due to threats from nations like Russia and China, has led to production challenges. These include supply chain complexities, multi-year backlogs in fulfilling orders, and the need for proactive measures to mitigate potential disruptions. With over 1,000 companies across continents involved in the production of NASAMS, the task of meeting the escalating demand for advanced air defense systems poses intricate challenges.
The situation in Ukraine underscores the complexities associated with international defense procurement and the critical role of timely and efficient delivery of advanced defense systems to nations facing security challenges.
Army taps Raytheon for radar-guided surface-to-air missiles for anti-aircraft, missile-defense applications
REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – U.S. Army air- and missile-defense experts needed advanced surface-to-air missiles for anti-aircraft and missile defense. They found their solution from Raytheon Technologies Corp.
Officials of the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., announced a $183.3 million contract Friday to the Raytheon Intelligence & Space segment in Tewksbury, Mass., for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS).
NASAMS is an adaptable mid-range air-defense system that consists of the Raytheon Sentinel radar, Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), and the Fire Distribution Center from the Kongsberg Gruppen Defense & Aerospace segment in Kongsberg, Norway.
The AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel is an X-band electronically steered pulse-Doppler 3D radar system used to alert and cue short range air defense weapons to the locations of hostile approaching targets.
Last year the Raytheon Missiles and Defense segment in Tucson, Ariz., unveiled a medium-range air and missile-defense radar for NASAMS called GhostEye MR. GhostEye MR is a 360-degree surveillance and fire-control sensor designed to detect, track, and identify cruise missiles, drones, fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters.
GhostEye MR can operate as a stand-alone radar, or as a future sensor for NASAMS, which Raytheon has produced and supported in partnership with Kongsberg for more than 30 years.
GhostEye MR will provide increased range and altitude coverage for NASAMS. GhostEye MR's extended range also maximizes the capabilities of the AMRAAM Extended Range (AMRAAM-ER) variant.
NASAMS provides air defenders with a tailorable defense system that can identify, engage, and destroy current and evolving enemy aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and emerging enemy cruise missiles.
NASAMS is owned by 12 countries and has been integrated into the U.S. National Capital Region’s air defense system since 2005. In addition to the U.S., Norway, Finland, Spain, The Netherlands, Oman, Lithuania, Indonesia, Australia, Qatar, Hungary, and one undisclosed country use NASAMS for homeland defense and the defense of critical assets, Raytheon officials say.
Built on a modular, distributed, open-hardware and software architecture, NASAMS continuously can accept new and evolving enabling technologies, in partnership with Kongsberg, Raytheon officials say.
Continuous upgrades can provide one of the most technologically advanced and combat-ready system in the world, Raytheon officials say. On this contract Raytheon will do the work in Tewksbury, Mass., and should be finished by August 2024.
For more information contact Raytheon Intelligence & Space online at www.raytheonintelligenceandspace.com, Raytheon Missiles & Defense at www.raytheonmissilesanddefense.com, Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace at www.kongsberg.com/kda, or the Army Contracting Command-Redstone at https://acc.army.mil/contractingcenters/acc-rsa.
GhostEye® Family of Radars: GhostEye MR | Raytheon
GhostEye® MR is an advanced medium-range air and missile defense radar, unveiled in October 2021.
Made by Raytheon, GhostEye MR is a 360-degree surveillance and fire control sensor designed to detect, track and identify a wide variety of threats. Among them: cruise missiles and drones, fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.
GhostEye MR also helps to counter sophisticated long-range mass attacks. It is adaptable to multiple missions: integrated air and missile defense, counter-UAS and defense of critical infrastructure, such as air bases.
GhostEye MR integrates with NASAMS
While GhostEye MR can operate as a standalone radar, it is also seen as a future sensor for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS™, a highly adaptable medium-range air defense solution. Raytheon has produced and supported the NASAMS system in partnership with Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace for more than 30 years.
GhostEye MR can integrate with NASAMS. This radar will provide increased range and altitude coverage that will expand the defended-area capabilities of NASAMS. GhostEye MR's extended range also maximizes the capabilities of the family of Raytheon effectors employed by NASAMS, including the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile Extended Range variant, or AMRAAM®-ER.
Part of the GhostEye family of radars
As the latest sensor in the GhostEye® family of radars, GhostEye MR leverages commonality with the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor, or LTAMDS, that Raytheon is building for the U.S. Army. LTAMDS is the first in Raytheon's GhostEye family of radars.
Both sensors share a baseline of advanced technologies, including active electronically scanned array, or AESA – which boosts detection, targeting and tracking – and military-grade gallium nitride, or GaN – which strengthens the radar signal and enhances its sensitivity for longer range, higher resolution and increased capacity.
Plus, the open architecture design of LTAMDS and GhostEye MR enables technology adaptations to counter new and evolving threats, so that nothing goes unseen.
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