Coordinating assault by drones, aircraft, ballistic, and cruise missiles thwarted through advanced defense system technology
Raytheon Ramps Up Production of LTAMDS Radars to Meet Global Demand
Raytheon, a leading defense manufacturer, is increasing its production of the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) radars to meet global demand. As of April 2022, the company is manufacturing eight additional LTAMDS radars per year and aiming to ramp up annual production to 12 units.
The LTAMDS, a missile defense sensor, has undergone nine successful flight tests of increasing complexity. The latest test involved a 360-degree test, conducted by Raytheon, demonstrating the radar's ability to provide 360-degree coverage.
Raytheon is making significant capital investments to meet the growing demand for LTAMDS. The increased power provided by the Large Tactical Power Source (LTPS) enables LTAMDS to reach its full battlespace potential. This power boost was evident in the latest test, which also included the successful integration of LTAMDS with the Large Tactical Power Source and the support of an Integrated Battle Command System.
The LTAMDS radar system, designed to defeat advanced and next-generation threats, has three antenna arrays: a primary array, and two secondary arrays. The primary array, about the same size as the array for the Patriot air and missile defense system, boasts more than twice the power. This power advantage enables LTAMDS to detect, classify, and track a wide range of threats, including drones, advanced aircraft, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and even hypersonic missiles.
In April 2025, the U.S. Army designated LTAMDS as an official program of record. This designation marked a significant milestone in the development of LTAMDS, which was officially adopted as a program by the U.S. Army by at least 2018, coinciding with strategic development efforts around Army Futures Command.
In 2024, Poland became the first international customer to add LTAMDS to their air and missile defense architecture. Several more countries are actively planning to acquire LTAMDS to modernize their air defenses.
Raytheon will deliver radar seven and eight later this year and is producing radars for the U.S. Army and Poland that were contracted for in August 2024. The company's commitment to increasing production indicates a strong belief in the LTAMDS' capabilities and its role in meeting the evolving threats in the global security landscape.
