Raytheon to provide radar avionics for U.S. and allied P-8A maritime surveillance aircraft

April 8, 2019
PATUXENT RIVER NAS, Md. – Radar experts at the Raytheon Co. is providing the U.S. and allied navies with 12 advanced airborne radar systems for the Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol, surveillance, and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
PATUXENT RIVER NAS, Md. – Radar experts at the Raytheon Co. is providing the U.S. and allied navies with 12 advanced airborne radar systems for the Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol, surveillance, and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

Officials of the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., have announced a $39.7 million order to the Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems segment in McKinney, Texas, to provide 12 AN/APY-10 radar production kits for U.S., United Kingdom, and Norway P-8A aircraft.

The U.S. Navy will receive three radar kits, the United Kingdom will receive four, and Norway will receive five kits, which are for P-8A lot 10 production aircraft. The order also includes support services.

The P-8A 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 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.

Related: Navy asks Boeing to upgrade networking, communications, and weapons aboard Poseidon aircraft

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 capability, a new color weather avoidance mode, and room for technology growth, Raytheon officials say.

The AN/APY-10 is integrated into the Boeing mission control and display system aboard the Poseidon for control, display and data distribution. The radar also will provide ultra-high-resolution imaging modes for maritime and overland operations.

The radar fits in the nose of the Poseidon. On this order Raytheon will do the work in McKinney, Texas; Andover and Chelmsford, Mass.; Woodland Park, N.J.; Little Falls, N.J.; San Carlos, Calif.; Black Mountain, N.C.; Etobicoke, Ontario; Ashburn, Va.; Simsbury, Conn.; and Clearwater, Fla., and should be finished by September 2022.

For more information contact Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems online at www.raytheon.com, or Naval Air Systems Command at www.navair.navy.mil.

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