Lockheed Martin successfully demonstrated the integration of the AN/SPY-7(v)1 radar into the Aegis Weapon System, executing the processing required to detect, track and discriminate ballistic missile threats, and successfully guide interceptors to those threats. The successful demonstration of the complete ballistic missile defense fire control loop is a critical milestone in the development of the SPY-7 equipped Aegis Combat System. The demonstration was witnessed by both the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Navy Aegis Technical Representative.
“The SPY-7 radar brings superior capability to sea or land-based platforms, utilizing proven production technology scaled from the Long Range Discrimination Radar, which recently achieved initial fielding in Clear, Alaska” said Joe DePietro, vice president and general manager of Naval Combat and Missile Defense Systems at Lockheed Martin. “As new threats emerge, SPY-7 integrated with Aegis will protect Japan and its citizens.”
SPY-7 is a scalable radar that can protect against ballistic missiles and anti-air missiles. This technology can protect warfighters and citizens at sea, ashore and around the world, through programs like Aegis, Aegis Ashore, and LRDR. SPY-7 provides several times the performance of traditional SPY-1 radars – it can detect, track, and engage sophisticated ballistic missile threats, including multiple threats at once. SPY-7 shares the same core technology as the Long Range Discrimination Radar. SPY-7 technology has been declared Technical Readiness Level 7 by the U.S. Government, meaning it has been tested in an operationally relevant environment.
Lockheed Martin is modifying its production test center facility located at its Moorestown, N.J. site to prepare for the live SPY-7 radar integration and test for Japan’s Aegis System Equipped Vessel (ASEV) program. Like other radar programs of this magnitude, this test facility will be used to validate end-item hardware and software performance prior to shipment to Japan, provide early lessons-learned to streamline equipment installation on the ASEV ship platform, and support maintenance and training efforts ahead of system deployment.
