Raytheon, US Navy Demonstrate Network Cooperative Radar Program

Raytheon Missiles & Defense on Thursday announced that, in partnership with the Office of U.S. Naval Research, it has completed successful demonstrations of the Network Cooperative Radar program, an advanced radar system that helps the Navy create distributed sensing networks to defend against evolving threats. NCR supports the Navy’s Distributed Maritime Operations concept by giving electromagnetic maneuver warfare capabilities to the fleet, Navy Recognition reported Sunday.

The demonstration showed how two surface-based radar emulators could detect targets using distributed sensing capabilities. It proved that tactical radars, like SPY-6, would benefit from advanced distributed radar concepts developed in the NCR program.

Cooperative radars collaborate using distributed sensing capabilities. NCR-enabled sensors work together to identify and track threats, communicating real-time information, Navy Recognition explained.

Rear Adm. Seiko Okano, program executive officer for the Navy’s Integrated Warfare Systems, said new tactical radars like the SPY-6 will provide protection to naval forces, and software updates like the one recently tested indicate that the technology is on a steady path of improvement.

Navy Recognition explained that SPY-6 is a U.S. Navy family of radars provide multiple classes of ships with air and missile defense. The SPY-6 family can defend against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hostile aircraft and surface ships simultaneously.

For his part, Colin Whelan, vice president of advanced technology at Raytheon Missiles & Defense, said the continued development of capabilities demonstrated by NCR will ensure SPY-6 remains the most advanced naval radar in the world.