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2024-02-01

Raytheon’s GhostEye MR Proves Operational Readiness

Raytheon has demonstrated the operational performance and readiness of the GhostEye MR advanced medium-range sensor for the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) during an extended exercise at White Sands Missile Range. The demonstration was done in partnership with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation (SDPE) office and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.

GhostEye MR expands NASAMS’ combat-proven capabilities against enemy aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems, and cruise missile threats. Raytheon designed and developed the radar, primarily through internal research and development investments. During the recent exercise, GhostEye MR was integrated with NASAMS’ Air Defense Console and the Battlespace Command and Control Center (BC3), a command-and-control element used by the U.S. Air Force.

“This experiment showed that GhostEye MR is a viable sensor option for integrated air and missile defence,” said Jim Simonds, U.S. Air Force Air Base Air Defense Programme Manager at the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. “The radar demonstrated its ability to be rapidly deployed and detect and track live targets precisely at longer ranges, providing increased standoff and decision-making time,” he said.

All three system components communicated effectively in a configuration designed as an air defence solution for the U.S. Air Force, sharing information and data during a live threat scenario. GhostEye MR provided a comprehensive air picture for the command-and-control system to determine whether a target was a threat and what response was required. Additionally, it supported simulated engagements and, with NASAMS, successfully defeated the targets.

“The team’s success demonstrates that GhostEye MR can meet the needs of the U.S. Air Force,” said Tom Laliberty, President of Land & Air Defense Systems at Raytheon. “Air bases around the world face a growing array of sophisticated airborne threats, and this exercise marked a significant step toward fielding an integrated capability for air base air defence,” Laliberty said.

This demonstration also builds on last year’s successful air defence experiment in Andøya, Norway, showcasing NASAMS’ ability to engage and intercept various aerial threats using multiple Raytheon missile types and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace’s Fire Distribution Center.

In August last year, Raytheon was awarded its first government contract to advance the development and assessment of GhostEye MR. A member of Raytheon’s GhostEye family of sensors, GhostEye MR provides increased range and altitude coverage to expand the defended-area capabilities of NASAMS. The radar leverages commonality with the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor, or LTAMDS, which is currently being developed for the U.S. Army.

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