 |
| APY-10 radar antenna on P-8A Poseidon. Picture: Boeing |
April 9, 2025
The U.S. Navy has recently awarded RTX Corporation's Raytheon segment a $15.8 million contract to prepare materials for seven additional AN/APY-10 radar systems, signaling continued investment in enhancing the Boeing P-8A Poseidon's surveillance capabilities across maritime, littoral, and overland domains.
Multi-Domain Surveillance Platform
The AN/APY-10 radar system represents a significant technological advancement over its predecessor, the AN/APS-137, providing the P-8A Poseidon with enhanced surveillance capabilities critical for modern naval operations. This sophisticated radar enables the aircraft to perform a wide range of missions including anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW), and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
"The AN/APY-10 provides the P-8A with unparalleled maritime, littoral, and overland surveillance capabilities," said Matt Gilligan, president of Raytheon Intelligence & Space in a previous statement about the system. "Its advanced technology allows naval forces to detect and track surface vessels and submarines with remarkable precision while also providing high-resolution imaging for overland operations."
 |
| Radar System Components |
Technical Capabilities
The AN/APY-10 radar system employs advanced technology that offers significant improvements over previous generations of maritime surveillance radar. Key technical capabilities include:
- Reduced SWaP: Significant reductions in size, weight, and power consumption compared to legacy systems
- Enhanced Target Tracking: Advanced algorithms for simultaneous tracking of multiple surface and subsurface targets
- Color Weather Avoidance: New color weather mapping capabilities to enhance flight safety
- High-Resolution Imaging: Ultra-high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) modes for detailed imaging of maritime and land targets
- Periscope Detection: Advanced capabilities for detecting submarine periscopes even in challenging sea states
- ISAR Capability: Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar functionality for target identification and classification
- Integration: Seamless integration with the P-8A's mission control and display systems
The radar is specifically designed to support the P-8A's primary mission profile, which includes operating at both extremely low altitudes—where the aircraft can deploy sonobuoys and other anti-submarine warfare tools—and high altitudes for broad-area surveillance.
Strategic Importance
The continued investment in AN/APY-10 radar systems highlights the strategic importance of the P-8A Poseidon in modern naval operations. As the designated replacement for the aging P-3 Orion fleet, the P-8A represents a critical component of the Navy's maritime patrol and reconnaissance capabilities.
The latest order also includes spare parts for Canadian and German P-8A operators, underlining the platform's importance to U.S. allies. The international adoption of the P-8A with its AN/APY-10 radar system enables greater interoperability among NATO forces and other partner nations.
Program Costs and Timeline
The U.S. Navy plans to acquire a total of 117 P-8A aircraft, with each aircraft equipped with the AN/APY-10 radar system. The total program cost for the P-8A fleet is estimated at approximately $33.6 billion, with individual aircraft costing around $175 million each.
The recent $15.8 million contract specifically covers materials for seven radar systems and spare parts. Work on this contract will be performed at Raytheon's McKinney, Texas facility and is expected to be completed by March 2028.
The AN/APY-10 radar is estimated to cost between $5-8 million per unit, though exact figures are not publicly disclosed due to the sensitive nature of defense procurement.
The P-8A Platform
The Boeing P-8A Poseidon is a modified 737-800ERX airframe that has been specifically hardened and reinforced for maritime patrol operations. The aircraft is designed to withstand the harsh conditions associated with low-altitude operations over open ocean, including turbulence and salt spray exposure.
Beyond the AN/APY-10 radar, the P-8A is equipped with an advanced suite of sensors and weapons systems including:
- Acoustic sensors and sonobuoy launchers
- Advanced electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors
- Electronic support measures (ESM)
- MK-54 torpedoes
- Harpoon anti-ship missiles
- Depth charges
The combination of these systems with the AN/APY-10 radar makes the P-8A one of the most capable maritime patrol aircraft in service today.
Sources:
- Naval Air Systems Command
- RTX Corporation - Raytheon
- Military Aerospace - Raytheon to prepare building seven AN/APY-10 airborne radar systems
- Boeing - P-8 Program
- Congressional Research Service - Navy P-8A Poseidon Aircraft Program
- Raytheon Intelligence & Space - Maritime Patrol Aircraft
P-8A Poseidon airborne radar for maritime surveillance | Military Aerospace
PATUXENT RIVER NAS, Md. – Maritime surveillance experts at RTX Corp. are preparing to build seven advanced airborne radar systems for the U.S. Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol, surveillance, and anti-submarine warfare aircraft under terms of a $15.8 million order announced on Monday.
Officials of the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., are asking the RTX Raytheon segment in McKinney, Texas, to buy materials for building seven AN/APY-10 radar systems for the Navy, and AN/APY-10 spare parts for Canada and Germany.
The Raytheon AN/APY-10 maritime, littoral, and overland surveillance radar is a relatively new design for the P-8A. Compared with the previous-generation AN/APS-137 radar, the AN/APY-10 has reduced size, weight, and power (SWaP); additional target track capabilities, a new color weather avoidance mode, and room for technology growth, Raytheon officials say.
High-resolution radar
The P-8A Poseidon is a specially hardened and reinforced version of the Boeing 737-800 passenger jet, and is designed to operate either at extremely low altitudes or at high altitudes over the ocean to search for potentially hostile submarines. The P-8A is designed to withstand the rigors of low-altitude turbulence and exposure to salt spray.
The AN/APY-10 is integrated into the Boeing mission control and display system aboard the Poseidon for control, display, and data distribution. The airborne radar also will provide ultra-high-resolution imaging modes for maritime and overland operations. The radar fits in the nose of the Poseidon.
The Poseidon is replacing the P-3 Orion for long-range maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare. The aircraft is equipped with modern avionics, anti-ship missiles, sophisticated torpedoes, sonobuoys, radar, and signals-intelligence gear. The Navy plans to buy 117 P-8As to replace its P-3 fleet.
On this order Raytheon will do the work in McKinney, Texas, and should be finished by March 2028. For more information contact RTX Raytheon online at www.rtx.com/raytheon, or Naval Air Systems Command at www.navair.navy.mil.
No comments:
Post a Comment