Raytheon to begin production of advanced shipboard radar system for guided missile destroyers

Shipboard radar experts at the Raytheon Co. will begin production of the new AN/SPY-6(V) Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) for late-model Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) Aegis destroyers under terms of a $327.1 million U.S. Navy order. Officials of the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington are asking the Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems segment in Marlborough, Mass., to build the first three AMDR low-rate initial production units. Raytheon prevailed over Northrop Grumman Corp. and Lockheed Martin Corp. to build the AMDR in 2013. The AMDR will supersede the AN/SPY-1 radar that has been standard equipment on Navy Aegis Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers. This order includes non-recurring engineering efforts in support of AMDR production. The Raytheon AN/SPY-6(V) AMDR will improve the Burke-class destroyer's ability to detect hostile aircraft, surface ships, and ballistic missiles.