Raytheon to upgrade missile-defense radar

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) in Huntsville, Ala., has contracted Raytheon to upgrade the AN/TPY-2 ballistic missile defense radar. Under the $10 million contract, Raytheon will develop hardware and software that will add gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor technology to the AN/TPY-2. Integration of GaN technology is said to increase the radar's range, search capabilities, and reliability while maintaining costs. The upgrade also allows the system to discriminate between threats and non-threats more effectively. The AN/TPY-2 would become the world's first transportable, land-based ballistic missile defense radar to use GaN technology.