, TEWKSBURY, Mass: Raytheon Company has successfully completed fine calibration of the X-Band Radar portion of the Sea-Based X-Band Radar, or SBX, marking a major achievement in the development of a key component of the Missile Defense Agency's Ground- Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system.
GMD is a major element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is the prime contractor for both GMD and SBX.
“With the successful completion of fine calibration testing, SBX moves one step closer to becoming the cornerstone of surveillance in the defense of our nation,” said Pete Franklin, vice president, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems Integrated Air and Missile Defense. “The Raytheon-developed X-Band Radar provides a one-of-a-kind capability. It is the sensor that can precisely track targets at long ranges, discriminate them to isolate the threatening objects from non-lethal ones, and perform midcourse hit assessment.”
Raytheon IDS completed the radar calibration procedures, including initial, coarse and fine calibrations, while SBX was undergoing sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Hawaii. This successful conclusion of the calibration phase allows the radar to undergo final performance verification testing. All key calibration metrics are now within the demanding requirements defined by the contract.
Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems designed and built the X-Band Radar, drawing on extensive sensor knowledge from its “Family of X-Band Radars.” As a key sensor for GMD, the X-Band Radar performs the critical functions of cued acquisition, target tracking, discrimination, and engagement hit assessment. The radar will help identify the hostile warhead from the decoys and countermeasures, providing additional capability for interceptor missiles to protect the U.S. and its friends and allies from ballistic missile attacks.
Aboard the maneuverable SBX, the X-Band Radar can be positioned in the ocean to support testing and provide radar coverage for possible threat missile launches throughout the world.
Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon's leader in Joint Battlespace Integration providing affordable, integrated solutions to a broad international and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Armed Forces and the Department of Homeland Security.
Raytheon Company, with 2006 sales of $20.3 billion, is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs more than 80,000 people worldwide.
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