Air and Missile Defense Radars, which were designed to replace AN/SPY-1 radars, will provide improved detection and discrimination capabilities for the Navy against airborne and other surface targets. It will provide enhanced multi-mission capabilities as well as greater reliability. Radar Modular Assemblies is what it uses to build it. These are self-contained radio transmitters and receivers, which can be stacked together to create any size array.
The AMDR system is modular and adaptable, designed to fulfill a wide range of mission requirements. Radar Suite Controller is included to coordinate the AMDRX deployment. The Radar Suite controller integrates with the existing AN/SPQ-9B X–band radar. Adaptive Digital Beamforming enhances AMDR’s signal processing. This uses high-powered Gallium Nitride(GaN) semiconductors for more advanced capabilities. This system is designed to track and detect surface and airborne targets at various ranges. It also has expanded coverage to cover 360 degrees. It will also be integrated with the Aegis Weapons System to provide information sharing and combat management for ships.
The AN/SPY-1 was used on Navy Aegis Burke and Ticonderoga-class destroyers, respectively. The system can track more targets than 100 at once, with target priority determined based upon threat level and range. AMDR's Active Electronically Scanned Array antenna (ASEA) is designed to target both surface and airborne targets. It also has a back end radar controller, which simplifies maintenance while reducing obsolescence. The radar is built with Radar Modular Assemblies (RMAs) and will be stacked to fit any ship's mission requirements.
The Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) program has successfully completed its baseline contract. This contract is the start of the development and maintenance of the radar systems. This contract includes design work, leading to a PDR. The PDR is a process that evaluates all aspects of the program. The system is designed to allow for an 8-year cycle and software updates every two.
The Hardware Delta Preliminary Design Review (PDR), was completed by the Air and Missile Defense Radars program in Tewksbury Massachusetts. This review is a milestone in the program's development, as it demonstrates the maturity of the design and technologies. AMDR will soon conduct a Critical Design Review. These will include cost assessments, test and evaluation plans. CDR evaluated the entire program, including hardware, software development, risk mitigation, program management, and program administration. The AMDR program signed an Acquisition Decision Memorandum (ADM) on October 4, 2013.
Raytheon was authorized by the Navy to resume production on the Air and Missile Defense Radar. It will consist of a single-faced 14-foot radar antenna that will not go to sea until it is installed on DDG-51 Flight III. The radar array will be built in contractor-operated indoor facilities. It is expected to go on-board the DDG-51 flight line in 2016.
The Air and Missile Defense Radar's back-end radar controller is a key development element. It will be used commercial x86 processors, which will simplify obsolescence as well as maintenance replacement. It will also use an open-systems approach that will allow the system interface with Aegis combat manager system. The AMDR radar suite control code will need approximately 1.2 Million lines of code.