“RTX Raytheon’s GhostEye® MR Demonstrates Tactical Excellence in U.S. Air Force Drill”

Raytheon, a prominent RTX (NYSE: RTX) entity, collaborating with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation (SDPE) unit and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, showcased the operational efficiency and preparedness of the GhostEye® MR sophisticated medium-range sensor for the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) during an extensive drill at White Sands Missile Range.

The GhostEye MR enhances NASAMS’ battle-tested capabilities against adversarial aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, and cruise missile threats. The radar was crafted and developed by Raytheon, primarily via internal R&D expenditures. In the recent drill, GhostEye MR was effectively integrated with NASAMS’ Air Defense Console and the Battlespace Command and Control Center (BC3), a key command-and-control asset utilized by the U.S. Air Force.

“This trial proved that GhostEye MR is a practical sensor alternative for integrated air and missile defense,” stated Jim Simonds, U.S. Air Force Air Base Air Defense Program Manager at the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. “The radar distinctly illustrated its capability to be swiftly deployed and accurately identify and monitor live targets at extended distances, fostering enhanced standoff and decision-making time.”

In a setup tailored as an air base air defense solution for the U.S. Air Force, all three system elements communicated seamlessly, exchanging information and pertinent data during a real-time threat scenario. GhostEye MR furnished a comprehensive air situation for the command-and-control system to assess whether a target posed a threat and what response was necessary. Furthermore, the radar facilitated simulated engagements and, in conjunction with NASAMS, successfully neutralized the targets.

“The team’s achievement signifies that GhostEye MR can fulfill the requirements of the U.S. Air Force,” remarked Tom Laliberty, president of Land & Air Defense Systems at Raytheon. “Airbases globally confront an escalating range of advanced aerial threats, and this exercise represented a crucial milestone towards deploying an integrated air base defense capability.”

This showcase also builds upon last year’s successful air base air defense trial in Andøya, Norway, which highlighted NASAMS’ proficiency to engage and intercept a variety of aerial threats utilizing multiple Raytheon missile variants and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace’s Fire Distribution Center.

In August of the previous year, Raytheon was granted its first governmental contracts to propel the advancement and evaluation of GhostEye MR. As a member of Raytheon’s GhostEye sensor family, GhostEye MR delivers enhanced range and altitude coverage to broaden the defended area capabilities of NASAMS. The radar capitalizes on commonality with the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor, or LTAMDS – currently in active development for the U.S. Army.