Missile tracker

Raytheon Demonstrates LTAMDS Threat Tracking Capabilities

Raytheon, an RTX business, conducted the fourth live-fire test for its Lower Tier Air Missile and Defense Sensor at the White Sands Missile Range on Thursday.

According to Raytheon, the LTAMDS test tracked a cruise missile surrogate flying at high altitude, passed track data to the Integrated Battle Command System and launched a Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement rocket for an intercept.

LTAMDS is a 360-degree active electronically scanned array radar designed to improve defense capabilities against manned and unmanned aircraft, conventional missiles and hypersonic weapons, RTX said.

The LTAMDS test came after Northrop Grumman demonstrated how the IBCS can integrate with other sensors to shoot down targets. In November, Northrop integrated IBCS with LTAMDS to detect, identify, track and take down threats, similar to how Raytheon performed the tests on Thursday.

Raytheon is also working on offensive missiles besides defensive platforms. In January, the company completed a technical review and prototype fit-check for the U.S. Navy’s Hypersonic Air Launched Offensive Anti-Surface platform. The HALO is envisioned as a carrier-based hypersonic missile that can support long-range fires and control contested battlespaces.