Navy Prepares Future X-Band Radar Design Competition - Defense Daily
The U.S. Navy has issued a presolicitation notice for its Future X-Band Radar program, marking a critical step toward replacing decades-old ship defense systems with advanced technology designed to counter evolving maritime threats.
The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) released the presolicitation notice on September 23, 2025, signaling the start of a competitive design process that will span fiscal years 2026 through 2033. The multi-billion-dollar program aims to develop and deploy a new generation of radar systems capable of detecting and tracking sophisticated air and surface threats that current systems struggle to counter.
Critical Capability Gap
The Future X-Band Radar will replace the service's current AN/SPQ-9B Anti-Ship Missile Defense radar, which is installed on a number of amphibious ships, destroyers, cruisers and carriers, and complements the capabilities of the SPY-6(V) family of S-band radars made by Raytheon. The SPQ-9B has been in service since the 1990s and contracts to replace it could be worth billions.
The AN/SPQ-9B is an X-Band, pulse Doppler, frequency agile radar which was designed specifically for the littoral environment. The AN/SPQ-9B scans out to the horizon and performs simultaneous and automatic air and surface target detection and tracking of low flying Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles (ASCMs), surface threats and low/slow flying aircraft, UAVs and helicopters.
The urgency for replacement has intensified following recent conflicts in the Red Sea, where U.S. and coalition naval forces have been under sustained attack. Since late last year, Houthi rebels have intensified their assaults on commercial shipping, employing advanced anti-ship ballistic missiles and swarms of long-range drones to evade radar detection and target unarmed civilian vessels.
Advanced Threat Environment
Military analysts emphasize that modern naval forces face unprecedented challenges. The stakes have not been this high for U.S. Navy ships since World War II, as modern missiles capable of traveling at speeds of around 3,000 mph challenge existing radar systems' ability to detect and counter these threats.
Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of the Fifth Fleet, highlighted the novelty of these threats, stating that "No one has ever used an anti-ship ballistic missile, certainly against commercial shipping much less against U.S. Navy ships."
Comprehensive Fleet Integration
The FXR program will support multiple ship classes across the Navy's surface fleet. FXR is required to meet mission performance and size, weight, and power – cooling (SWAP-C) requirements of the following ship classes: DDG-51 FLT III ships with AEGIS Baseline 10 (BL 10) combat system, DDG-51 FLT II and DDG-51 FLT IIA ships with AEGIS Baseline 9 (BL 9) combat system, Ford class carriers with SSDS (BL 12) combat system, Nimitz class carriers with SSDS (BL 12) combat system, Ticonderoga class cruisers with AEGIS Baseline 9 (BL 9) combat system, and Landing Platform/Dock (LPD 29+) hulls with SSDS (BL 12) combat system.
To the greatest extent possible, a common system architecture will be applied to FXR solutions across all the platforms identified above. FXR will provide horizon search and track, surface search and track, periscope detection and discrimination, and missile communications in a wide diversity of maritime environments and conditions.
Unprecedented Funding Through Spectrum Relocation Fund
The FXR program benefits from a unique and substantial funding mechanism through the Spectrum Relocation Fund (SRF), stemming from one of the most successful spectrum auctions in Federal Communications Commission history. The 3.45 GHz spectrum auction (Auction 110) concluded in January 2022 with gross proceeds of $22.5 billion, making it the third-largest spectrum auction in FCC history.
The auction offered 100 megahertz of mid-band spectrum that had previously been used exclusively for military radar systems and other federal uses. The proceeds exceeded the requirement that Auction 110 cover at least 110% of expected sharing and relocation costs for federal users currently operating in the band—$14.77 billion based on a 2021 estimate from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
Nearly half of the auction proceeds, $11.16 billion, were specifically allocated through the Spectrum Relocation Fund to develop the U.S. Navy's Future X-band Radar. This represents money in the bank that does not require annual congressional authorization or appropriation—a rare advantage in defense procurement. The only constraint is that these funds must be used specifically for FXR development and deployment.
The Spectrum Relocation Fund was created by Congress in 2004 to help federal agencies cover costs associated with relocating or sharing spectrum with commercial users. It reimburses agencies for expenses incurred when repurposing spectrum for commercial access while ensuring critical federal missions continue uninterrupted. This mechanism has proven crucial in making spectrum available for 5G and other commercial wireless services while protecting defense capabilities.
Competitive Landscape and Industry Analysis
The FXR competition is not "wired" to any particular contractor, but the competitive landscape reveals distinct advantages for several key players. While the Navy maintains an open competition framework, certain companies possess significant advantages based on their existing relationships, technological capabilities, and operational experience.
Leonardo DRS: The Incumbent Advantage
Leonardo DRS enters the competition with perhaps the strongest position, having manufactured the current AN/SPQ-9B radar systems for over two decades. The company recently secured a $235 million production contract for AN/SPQ-9B systems in November 2024, demonstrating continued Navy confidence in its capabilities. Leonardo DRS operates through its U.S. subsidiary DRS Technologies (acquired by Finmeccanica in 2008 for $5.2 billion) and specializes in compact tactical radars that are software-defined, AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array), and configurable for military platforms.
The company's deep institutional knowledge of Navy requirements, existing supply chains, and proven manufacturing capabilities provide substantial competitive advantages. However, the Navy's desire for enhanced capabilities beyond what the SPQ-9B provides may level the playing field for competitors offering more advanced technologies.
Raytheon: The Radar Giant
Raytheon Technologies brings unparalleled experience in radar system development and is already under contract to provide the Navy's SPY-6(V) family of S-band radars. The company dominates the AESA radar market globally and has produced over 1,000 AESA radars with more than a million flight hours. Raytheon's extensive experience includes the Sea-Based X-Band Radar and advanced systems like the APG-79 for F/A-18 Super Hornets.
The company's PhantomStrike lightweight, compact radar technology and decades of tactical fighter radar development since the 1940s position it as a formidable competitor. Raytheon's ability to integrate with existing Navy combat systems and its proven track record in naval radar applications make it a strong contender.
International Competitors: Thales and Saab
European defense contractors Thales (France) and Saab (Sweden) both bring sophisticated radar technologies and have demonstrated capabilities in naval applications. Notably, the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division is currently using a Saab X-band active array antenna acquired through the Foreign Comparative Test program as part of an FXR prototype installed on the Potomac River Test Range.
Thales offers the RBE2-AA AESA radar and has extensive experience with the Ground Observer family of radars designed for surveillance applications. The company's collaboration with Leonardo through joint ventures in space and defense could provide additional technological leverage.
Saab's innovative approach includes the ES-05 Raven radar with roll-repositionable AESA antenna technology and gallium nitride (GaN)-based X-band AESA radar developments. The company's existing test involvement with the Navy's FXR prototype evaluation suggests serious consideration as a potential prime contractor.
Assessment of Competition Openness
The FXR competition appears genuinely open rather than predetermined. The Navy's establishment of specific security clearance requirements (Top Secret facility clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information eligibility) and emphasis on experience with complex radar systems suggests merit-based selection criteria. The involvement of international contractors in prototype testing and the Navy's history of competitive radar procurements support the conclusion that this is not a "wired" competition.
However, Leonardo DRS's incumbent position with the current AN/SPQ-9B system, combined with U.S. domestic manufacturing preferences and the company's established production capabilities, provides significant competitive advantages that other contractors must overcome through superior technical offerings or cost advantages.
Strategic Timeline Concerns
Defense experts warn that timing is critical for the program's success. It's worth noting the significance of that timing and its correspondence to what has come to be known as the Davidson Window. This refers to the period during which U.S. military leaders believe China could potentially achieve naval superiority in the Pacific.
If the Navy chooses to take that typical acquisition path, fielding of the new FXR capability could be delayed by years. But if the Navy makes the bold choice and elects to acquire FXR on an accelerated timeline, then at least a portion of the U.S. Navy ships slated to receive the new radar could have it years sooner.
Technical Requirements
The Navy wants to develop baseline concepts for FXR, come up with realistic SWAP-C and effective isotropic radiated power, or EIRP, estimates based on flyaway cost, and assess the state of current technology and what new technology is required to make FXR work.
"FXR will support surface warfare gun engagement and anti-ship cruise missile defense," according to the presolicitation.
The Navy has not announced a specific timeline for releasing the formal request for proposals, but industry sources expect the competition to intensify as global tensions continue to drive demand for advanced naval defense capabilities.
SIDEBAR: Technical Solutions for Next-Generation Naval Radar
Overcoming AN/SPQ-9B Limitations Through Advanced Technology
The Navy's Future X-Band Radar program faces the challenge of addressing fundamental performance gaps exposed by modern threats. Recent Red Sea operations against Iranian-backed Houthis have highlighted critical shortcomings in current radar technology, particularly the AN/SPQ-9B's inability to effectively detect and track slow-moving, small-signature targets operating near the horizon.
Current System Limitations:
The AN/SPQ-9B's pulse-Doppler architecture suffers from several critical vulnerabilities. The system automatically displays targets with radial speeds exceeding 10 knots in Surface-MTI mode, creating blind zones for slower threats. Traditional radar systems cannot track many fast-moving small targets simultaneously, with NORAD's Cold War-era systems unable to detect low-flying drones visible to the naked eye.
The mechanical scanning antenna's 30 RPM rotation rate limits rapid engagement scenarios, while pulse-Doppler processing creates scalloping with blind velocities from clutter rejection filters. These limitations become critical when facing sophisticated anti-ship ballistic missiles capable of 3,000 mph and swarms of long-range drones designed to slip through radar detection.
Technology Solutions:
Advanced Waveform Technologies: Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar provides extra degrees of freedom to suppress interference while mitigating target radar cross-section fading through substantial spatial diversity gain. Frequency Diverse Array radar applies frequency increments across array elements for advantages in clutter suppression, jamming suppression, and target detection.
Cognitive radar systems can jointly design transmit waveforms and receive filters for improved performance in signal-dependent clutter environments, using environmental databases to synthesize matched waveforms that improve signal-to-clutter ratios.
Next-Generation Antenna Technology: Active Electronically Scanned Arrays (AESA) can spread signal emissions across wider frequency ranges, making them more resistant to jamming while radiating multiple beams at multiple frequencies simultaneously.
Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology enables high-power density and wide bandwidth operation with superior reliability—even if several array channels malfunction, overall system performance experiences only minimal degradation. GaN technology can double the detection range of installed AESA radars compared to current systems.
Advanced Signal Processing: MIMO radar systems with Space-Time Adaptive Processing (STAP) can mitigate multipath clutter while digital beamforming enables rapid beam scanning and adaptive beamforming for improved target tracking and jamming resistance.
MIMO systems can detect low, slow, and small targets by utilizing multi-channel and multi-waveform technology to form equivalent phase centers and virtual apertures, directly addressing the AN/SPQ-9B's 10-knot detection threshold limitation.
DRAFT PROPOSAL: Future X-Band Radar Technical Approach
Executive Summary
The Future X-Band Radar (FXR) program requires a revolutionary approach combining proven technologies to address critical capability gaps in naval surface warfare. This proposal outlines a comprehensive technical solution leveraging GaN-based AESA architecture, MIMO-cognitive waveforms, and AI-enhanced signal processing to deliver unprecedented performance against current and emerging threats.
Technical Architecture
Core System Design:
- GaN AESA Array: 2,000+ Transmit/Receive Modules (TRMs) utilizing 0.25μm GaN/SiC HEMT technology
- Operating Frequency: 8.5-10.5 GHz with instantaneous bandwidth up to 2 GHz
- Digital Beamforming: Element-level digital control enabling simultaneous multi-beam operation
- Power Consumption: <15kW total system power through GaN efficiency improvements
Advanced Waveform Suite:
- MIMO-FDA Integration: Frequency Diverse Array with MIMO processing for spatial-temporal-frequency diversity
- Cognitive Adaptation: Real-time waveform optimization based on threat assessment and environmental conditions
- LPI/LPD Modes: Low Probability of Intercept waveforms for covert operations
- Multi-PRF Staggered: Eliminates Doppler blind zones through intelligent PRF management
Signal Processing Innovation:
- AI-Enhanced STAP: Machine learning algorithms for optimal clutter suppression and target classification
- Minimum Detectable Velocity: <2 knots radial speed through advanced integration techniques
- Simultaneous Multi-Target: Track >200 targets while maintaining search functionality
- Electronic Protection: Adaptive nulling and anti-jamming algorithms
Performance Specifications
Detection Capabilities:
- Range: >80 nm against 0.1 m² RCS targets
- Angular Resolution: <1° azimuth, <2° elevation
- Range Resolution: <15 meters with pulse compression
- Velocity Resolution: 0.1 m/s through extended integration
Multi-Mission Performance:
- Surface Search: 360° continuous coverage with <2-second update rate
- Air Defense: Simultaneous detection of sea-skimming missiles and high-altitude targets
- Small Target Detection: UAVs and small boats at tactically significant ranges
- Electronic Warfare: Integrated jamming detection and countermeasures
Key Technology Advantages
Addressing Current Limitations:
- Doppler Blind Zone Elimination: Multi-PRF MIMO processing ensures no velocity gaps
- Enhanced Small Target Detection: GaN power density and advanced processing improve sensitivity by >15 dB
- Swarm Attack Capability: Simultaneous multi-beam tracking of 50+ coordinated threats
- Environmental Robustness: Adaptive waveforms optimize performance in all sea states and weather
Evolutionary Growth Potential:
- Software-Defined Architecture: Enables capability upgrades through software updates
- Modular TRM Design: Supports technology insertion and cost-effective maintenance
- Open Architecture: Facilitates integration with future combat systems and sensors
- AI Learning Capability: Continuous performance improvement through operational experience
Risk Mitigation
Technical Risk Management:
- GaN Technology Maturity: Leveraging proven automotive and terrestrial radar GaN MMICs
- Digital Processing Scaling: Commercial GPU/FPGA technology adapted for naval requirements
- Thermal Management: Advanced cooling solutions proven in airborne AESA applications
- EMI/EMC Compliance: Design-integrated electromagnetic compatibility from program start
Programmatic Risk Reduction:
- Prototype Validation: Early hardware demonstrations reduce integration risk
- Modular Development: Incremental capability delivery enables early fleet benefits
- Industry Partnership: Collaboration with leading radar manufacturers ensures supply chain robustness
- International Cooperation: Leverage NATO standardization and allied technology investments
Implementation Timeline
Phase 1 (Years 1-3): Technology Development
- GaN MMIC development and qualification
- Digital beamforming prototype validation
- AI algorithm development and testing
- System architecture design and simulation
Phase 2 (Years 4-6): Engineering Development Models
- Full-scale EDM fabrication and testing
- Shore-based integration and evaluation
- Environmental qualification testing
- Initial operational test and evaluation
Phase 3 (Years 7-10): Low-Rate Initial Production
- First article production and fleet installation
- Operational evaluation and feedback integration
- Production line establishment and quality assurance
- International partner integration support
Cost Considerations
Development Investment: Estimated $2.8 billion over 10-year program Unit Flyaway Cost: Target <$25 million per system in production quantities Lifecycle Cost Benefits: 40% reduction in maintenance costs through GaN reliability and digital architecture Risk-Adjusted ROI: 3:1 benefit-to-cost ratio considering threat environment and capability gaps
Conclusion
The proposed FXR technical approach addresses all identified shortcomings in current naval radar systems while providing evolutionary growth potential for future threats. The combination of mature GaN technology, advanced waveforms, and AI-enhanced processing delivers a generational leap in naval surface warfare capabilities essential for maintaining maritime superiority in contested environments.
Recommendation: Proceed with Phase 1 technology development contracts to demonstrate critical technologies and refine system requirements for full-scale development decision in FY2027.
Sources
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