Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR), which was developed to replace AN/SPY-1 radar will offer the Navy improved detection and discrimination capabilities against surface and airborne targets. It will provide enhanced multi-mission capabilities as well as greater reliability. Radar Modular Assemblies or RMAs are self-contained, modular radar receivers and transmitters. These can be stacked in any size array.
The AMDR system, which is modular and easily scalable, can be tailored to meet various mission requirements. Radar Suite Controller is included in the system. It will coordinate the AMDRX deployment and integrate with the existing AN/SPQ-9B Xband radar. Adaptive Digital Beamforming improves AMDR's signal-processing capabilities by using high-powered Gallium Nitride and (GaN). The system is primarily designed to detect and track surface and airborne targets at multiple ranges, with an expanded ability to provide 360-degree coverage. The Aegis Weapons System will integrate the system to allow for information sharing and combat management on ships.
The AMDR program is expected to replace the AN/SPY-1, which has been used on Navy Aegis Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers. 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 features a back-end controller for radar that simplifies maintenance and decreases obsolescence costs. Radar Modular Assemblies, or RMAs (radio modular assemblies), are used in the construction of this radar. The stackable design can be adjusted to suit any ship's mission.
The Air and Missile Defense Radar program has completed its baseline contract, which is the beginning of the development of the radar system. This contract contains design work that will lead you to a PDR. It is a process of evaluating all aspects and software. 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 marks a major milestone in the program’s development. It demonstrates the technology and design maturity. Later this year, the AMDR program plans on conducting a Critical Design Review. This will include testing and evaluation schedules as well cost assessments. The CDR evaluated all aspects of the program, including hardware and software development, risk mitigation, and program management. The AMDR program executed an Acquisition Decision Memorandum on October 4, 2013.
Raytheon received a resume order from the Navy to begin production on its Air and Missile Defense Radars (AMDR) in early 2014. The single-faced radar array of 14-foot will be installed on DDG-51 Flight III. The radar array will be built in contractor-operated indoor facilities. It is expected to be tested on the DDG-51 flight line in 2016.
The back-end radar controller of the Air and Missile Defense Radar is an important development element. It was designed to be easy to replace and obsolete by using commercial x86 processing units. It is also planned to use an open systems approach, which will allow the system to interface with the Aegis combat management system. It is estimated that the AMDR radar suite controller will require about 1.2 million lines code.