TEWKSBURY, Mass., Feb. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. and
its friends and allies will soon have improved defenses against
ballistic missile raids -- large quantities of simultaneously
impacting ballistic missiles. Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN)
has upgraded the computer processor of the AN/TPY-2 ballistic
missile defense radar, enabling the system to both perform better
during raids and to more quickly and accurately discriminate
between a missile's warhead, and non-threats such as
countermeasures.
"We upgraded the AN/TPY-2's electronic equipment unit (EEU) with
a state-of-the-art, commercially available computer processor that
has approximately five times the processing power as the previous
system," said Dave Gulla, vice
president of Global Integrated Sensors in Raytheon's Integrated
Defense Systems business. "This upgrade ensures the AN/TPY-2
will be able to stay ahead of the growing threat and continue to
protect the things that matter."
AN/TPY-2 is a critical element of the Ballistic Missile Defense
System. It is a mobile X-band radar designed to protect
civilians and infrastructure in the U.S., deployed warfighters, and
allied nations and security partners, from the growing global
ballistic missile threat. U.S. intelligence agencies estimate
there are more than 6,300 ballistic missiles not controlled by the
U.S., NATO, China or Russia. That number is expected to reach
almost 8,000 by 2020.
Raytheon delivered the first upgraded EEU to the Missile Defense
Agency on Jan 30, 2015. The MDA
previously announced it intends to replace the EEU of a fielded
AN/TPY-2 with the upgraded EEU, and send the older EEU back to
Raytheon to be upgraded. The process will repeat until all ten EEUs
in the U.S. inventory are upgraded. This approach is designed
to ensure constant radar coverage throughout the entire upgrade
process.
In addition to retro-fitting existing EEUs, new Raytheon-built
radars for U.S. and international customers will include the
upgrade. The new processor also weighs less, requires less
power, and occupies less space than the older system.
About AN/TPY-2
AN/TPY-2 is a high resolution, mobile, rapidly deployable X-band
radar capable of providing long range acquisition, precision track,
and discrimination of short-, medium- and intermediate-range
ballistic missiles. The AN/TPY-2 may be deployed globally in either
terminal or forward-based mode. In terminal mode, the AN/TPY-2
serves as the search, detect, track, discrimination and
fire-control radar for the THAAD weapon system, enabling the THAAD
missile to intercept and destroy threats. In forward-based mode,
the AN/TPY-2 cues the BMDS by detecting, discriminating and
tracking enemy ballistic missiles in the ascent phase of
flight.
- AN/TPY-2 has performed flawlessly in both terminal and
forward-based mode in all major tests.
- On Oct. 25, 2012, two AN/TPY-2
radars – one terminal and one forward-based – participated in
FTI-01, the MDA's largest and most complex exercise. In a complex
raid scenario involving multiple targets, both radars met or
exceeded all test objectives.
- On April 15, 2011, a
forward-based AN/TPY-2 extended the battlespace by enabling a
Standard Missile-3 to launch off remote data and intercept a
separating Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile.
- Raytheon has delivered ten AN/TPY-2s to the Missile Defense
Agency. Some of those radars are currently helping defend the U.S.
and its allies in the European, Pacific and Central Command area of
responsibilities.
About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2014 sales of $23 billion and
61,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader
specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the
world. With a history of innovation spanning 93 years, Raytheon
provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration
and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and
command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well
as cyber security and a broad range of mission support services.
Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more
about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow
us on Twitter @raytheon.
Media Contact
Mike
Nachshen
+1.520-269-5697
idspr@raytheon.com
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SOURCE Raytheon Company