24 May 2017

Raytheon’s GaN-based AESA upgrade to Patriot radar surpasses 1000 hours of operation

Raytheon Company of Waltham, MA, USA says that, since its debut at the 2016 AUSA (Association of the United States Army) Annual Meeting & Exposition in Washington DC last October, its gallium nitride (GaN)-powered active electronically scanned array (AESA) proposed upgrade to the Patriot Air and Missile Defense radar has surpassed more than 1000 hours of operation in just over a year (half the time of a typical testing program).

“We achieved this milestone so quickly because of our successful experience developing and maturing GaN for programs like the US Navy’s Air and Missile Defense Radar,” says Doug Burgess, director of AESA programs at Raytheon’s Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) business. “We’re ready to take the next step and get this radar into the hands of our customers.”

During the course of the 1000 hours, Raytheon’s GaN-based AESA prototype radar routinely demonstrated 360° capability by working together with a second GaN-based AESA antenna that was pointed in a different direction. As targets flew out of one array’s field of view and into another, the two arrays seamlessly passed information back and forth, tracking the target continuously. The main array also detected and tracked tactically maneuvering fighter jets and thousands of other aircraft.

“Raytheon’s GaN technology is backed by 19 years of research and $300m in investment, while our competitors are either new to the market or primarily build GaN for commercial applications,” says Ralph Acaba, VP of Integrated Air and Missile Defense at Raytheon IDS. “When national security is on the line you want highly reliable, proven technology that is certified by the US Department of Defense for use in military radars.”

Raytheon’s GaN-based AESA radar will work with the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System and other open architectures. It maintains compatibility with the current Patriot Engagement Control Station and full interoperability with NATO systems.

Raytheon says that a number of current and expected future Patriot Air and Missile Defense System partner nations in Europe and Asia have expressed interest in acquiring GaN-based AESA. Poland submitted a Letter of Request for GaN-based AESA Patriot on 31 March. Raytheon’s GaN-based AESA technology also meets Germany’s requirements for the German Taktisches Luftverteidigungssystem (TLVS) tactical air and missile defence system.

See related items:

Raytheon's GaN-based AESA Patriot air & missile defense radar completes key milestones

US Government approves export of GaN-based AESA sensor for Patriot radar

Tags: Raytheon GaN MMIC Radar

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