The US Army has approved the first production run of the LTAMDS (Lower-Level Air and Missile Defense Sensor) radar, which will significantly increase air defense capabilities. Developed by defense giant Raytheon, this next-generation radar system is set to replace the aging Patriot air defense systems that have been in service for more than 15 years.
Patriot Systems Renewal Process
According to Defense News, the U.S. Army initially held a competition to replace the Patriot system as a whole, but those plans were later canceled. The Army opted to develop a new command and control system and a new radar separately in order to be more flexible and adaptable to current technologies.
The tender process initiated within this scope revealed the critical need of the US Army for a radar system with 360-degree vision capability and superior performance against new generation air and missile threats. In line with this, leading companies in the defense industry presented their potential solutions to the army. With the official announcement made on October 17, 2019, the US Army announced that it preferred Raytheon in this important tender and a $384 million contract was signed with the company. This contract initially covered the delivery of 6 LTAMDS radars to the army to replace the existing Patriot radars. Raytheon successfully developed and delivered these 5 radars to the army within 6 years in accordance with the contract schedule.
Successful Tests Paved the Way for Production
The LTAMDS system has now entered the low-speed initial production phase following a series of successful flight tests completed last fall and early this year. During these critical tests, the LTAMDS radar demonstrated superior performance by fully integrating with two different Patriot missiles used by the U.S. Army, the PAC-2 and the more advanced PAC-3 MSE. It also demonstrated full compatibility with the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS), the next-generation command and control center for Patriot systems developed by Northrop Grumman.
Durability Tests in Harsh Conditions
The LTAMDS radar was not only subjected to 8 major missile tests, but also successfully passed the endurance test under the most difficult conditions required by military standards. The operational integrity and reliability of the system were tested in 10.000 hours of difficult trials that included elements such as wind, rain, dust and road resistance. The system was also extensively tested in conditions that could be described as “challenging” by military units in the field, ensuring full operational endurance. In this context, the first place where the LTAMDS radar will be deployed will be the strategically important island of Guam. This deployment will contribute to the significant strengthening of the US air defense capacity in the region.
Cost and Production Planning
According to Defense News, each LTAMDS radar currently costs around $125 million to $130 million. However, this price is expected to decrease over time as mass production increases. The U.S. Army’s initial low-rate production batch will consist of around 10 radars. The service plans to produce a total of 94 LTAMDS radars over the course of the program. In addition to these developments, Raytheon will also produce 12 LTAMDS radars ordered by Poland, making Poland the first foreign customer for the LTAMDS system.
The current time required to complete a LTAMDS radar on the production line is stated as approximately 40 months. However, the US Army is working closely with Raytheon to shorten this time even further. In this context, a consulting firm specializing in supply chain management has been hired to reduce the production time of a radar to the official program target of 36 months. This significant modernization of the US Army’s air defense capabilities with the LTAMDS radar is considered a strategic step towards increasing the security of the country and its allies.
