To meet global demand, Raytheon, a U.S. defense company, has invested $53 million in new production facilities spanning 23,000 square feet (about 2,100 square meters). They are intended for LTAMDS radars, which operate alongside the Patriot air defense system to detect and track hypersonic threats, including russia's Kinzhal missiles.
Company representatives told Defense News they had received dozens of inquiries about the new radar. At the same time, the first and so far only contract covers 12 units for Poland, included in its Patriot system procurement.
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However, the system has only recently received approval from the U.S. Army for small-scale production and is still undergoing testing, such as operational testing in real conditions in Guam. In total, six prototypes have been produced, with two more in production following military feedback.
Initial LTAMDS production is expected to reach 12 units per year, increasing to 18 to accommodate foreign orders. As a result, the new facilities are expected to open by the end of this year.
In total, Raytheon has already invested more than $400 million in expanding its capabilities for producing these radars. This includes software laboratories, antenna calibration ranges, automated subsystem assembly shops, and massive cranes for final assembly.
From Defense Express we would like to note that few countries in the world are capable of producing such products, making global demand very high. Meeting demand promptly is also crucial to avoid decades-long backlogs for individual units. Other radar manufacturers, such as Germany's Hensoldt and France's Thales, are also investing in expansion.
It should be noted that LTAMDS, commercially known as GhostEye, addresses the biggest problem with Patriot radars, namely providing 360-degree coverage. Currently available analogues only provide sector coverage, such as 120 degrees in AN/MPQ-53.
This allows detection of cruise, ballistic, and hypersonic missiles from any direction, enabling immediate targeting with interceptors. It is unsurprising that demand for such capabilities is rising worldwide.
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