Raytheon, a subsidiary of RTX (NYSE: RTX), has secured a contract from the US Office of Naval Research to develop advanced radar detection software for naval surveillance and defense systems.
Under the agreement, Raytheon’s Advanced Technology division will develop and evaluate new signal-processing and data-processing algorithms designed to extend radar detection ranges and improve sensitivity.
The programme will also focus on increasing operational efficiency, with enhancements intended to help naval radar systems identify smaller objects at greater distances while accelerating target classification.
The technology will undergo laboratory evaluations and field testing before being considered for integration into Raytheon’s SPY-6 family of naval radars and other future radar platforms.
Colin Whelan, President of Advanced Technology at Raytheon, said the planned improvements would strengthen the ability of naval personnel to identify and assess potential threats more effectively.
The upgrades “will enable naval operators to detect smaller objects at greater distances and classify targets more quickly, providing the fleet with faster, more informed decision-making,” Whelan said.
The development programme builds on earlier research initiatives funded by the Office of Naval Research, including prior programmes known as ASPIRE and STORM.
Raytheon said those earlier programmes established hardware and software capabilities that provide a technological foundation for the latest development work now underway.
The SPY-6 radar family is designed to support naval air and missile defense operations, with the proposed software enhancements intended to improve detection and tracking as operational requirements continue to evolve.
By focusing on advanced algorithms and software integration, the programme aims to deliver radar performance improvements through upgrades to existing technology rather than relying exclusively on new hardware development.
This software-first approach is widely regarded in the defense industry as one of the faster and more cost-effective methods of delivering mission-ready capability to fielded systems.
Raytheon will conduct the work at its facilities in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and Andover, Massachusetts, with programme activities scheduled to continue through 2031.
The financial terms of the contract were not disclosed by either Raytheon or the Office of Naval Research.
The award extends Raytheon’s ongoing involvement in US Navy radar research and development, with resulting technology potentially supporting both the SPY-6 product family and future generations of naval radar systems.
