Raytheon Eyes Development of Multi-Function Smart Radar for Next Decade

Raytheon plans to develop over the next decade an architecture meant to connect radar systems and allow simultaneous detection, tracking, definition, communication and analysis operations.

The company said Friday it plans to use unified software and architecture to generate multiple perspectives from the visual coverage of various radars, and machine learning to aid future U.S. and allied defense by predicting hostile scenarios.

Ellen Ferraro, director of research and advanced technology at Raytheon’s integrated defense systems business, said that multifunction capacities would expand the functions of existing systems.

Near-identical digital back-end and software architecture for radars with different technologies would expedite updates, she explained.

Ferraro added that a multifunction radar with reduced energy consumption could replace several systems and would provide additional power and space to allow the installation of other technologies.

Raytheon’s current radar development efforts include a 360-degree sensor update for the Patriot defense system, the stackable AN/SPY-6 for the U.S. Navy and additional search, detection, targeting, multi-tasking and cybersecurity features for the AN/TPY2 component of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system.