PATUXENT RIVER NAS, Md. – Radar experts at Raytheon Technologies Corp. are providing the U.S. and allied navies with 23 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., announced a $74.2 million four-year contract Friday to the Raytheon Intelligence & Space segment in McKinney, Texas, to provide 23 AN/APY-10 radar production kits for U.S. Navy and allied P-8A aircraft. The contract 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 orders five MQ-4C Triton surveillance unmanned aircraft over the past two months for maritime patrol
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 and Dallas, Texas; Andover and Chelmsford, Mass.; Torrance, Calif.; Woodland Park, N.J.; Black Mountain, N.C.; Etobicoke, Ontario; Clearwater, Fla.; and Simsbury, Conn., and should be finished by August 2025.
For more information contact Raytheon Intelligence & Space online at www.rtx.com, or Naval Air Systems Command at www.navair.navy.mil.
