- 25 June 2005 -

Alignment of hi-tech naval radar

Lockheed Martin has opened a new facility for the precision alignment of high-technology radar, such as the Volume Surveillance Radar under development for the US Navy's DD(X) next-generation destroyers.

The 11,300sq.ft. facility is the latest advancement in Lockheed Martin's solid state antenna technology development. Previous steps included an increased capability to build transmit/receive modules, the heart of the phased array antennas, and a prototype antenna that first successfully tracked live targets in late 2003.

This new Solid State Radar Near Field Test Facility is a contained structure with various testing instruments. When a radar antenna is installed in the facility, it can be operated at various power levels to test and adjust the alignment of both transmit and receive elements.

After testing of the S-band Volume Surveillance Radar antenna is completed, the unit will be shipped to support DD(X) Dual Band Radar testing.

"This radar is not only important for DD(X), it is important for aircraft carriers and amphibious ships," said Rear Adm. (select) Charles Goddard, the Navy's program manager for the DD(X) destroyer.

Lockheed Martin is a leader in advanced naval radars, including the SPY-1 phased array radar, the main sensor in the Lockheed Martin-developed Aegis Weapon System. This is already deployed on more than 75 ships around the world and scheduled for installation on over 30 more.

In addition to the US, Aegis is the naval weapon system of choice for Japan, Korea, Norway, Spain and Australia. Aegis SPY-1 capability extends from the ocean surface for littoral operations to the exo-atmosphere for ballistic missile defense.