LRDR passes preliminary design review
Lockheed Martin has announced that its Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) has passed preliminary design review (PDR), clearing the way for detailed design to move ahead.
The LRDR is being developed by Lockheed Martin under contract with the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to support a layered ballistic missile defence strategy to protect the US from ballistic missile attacks.
The PDR was awarded following the radar proving Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 in a scaled demonstration of the system's critical technology elements in a relevant end-to-end environment.
TRL 7 is expected to be achieved later in 2017, after which the programme will transition to manufacturing.
The system is being developed at Lockheed Martin's facility and a new solid state radar integration site, a self-funded test facility that will be used to demonstrate TRL 7 and provide significant risk reduction for development of LRDR and future solid state radar systems.
LRDR is a high-powered S-Band radar incorporating solid-state gallium nitride (GaN) components, with the additional capability to discriminate threats at extreme distances using the inherent wideband capability of the hardware coupled with advanced software algorithms.
The radar will be a key component of the MDA's Ballistic Missile Defense System, providing acquisition, tracking and discrimination data to enable separate defence systems to lock on and engage ballistic missile threats.
More from Defence Notes
-
![Ukraine air defences supplied by West force drop in Russian aircraft sorties]()
Ukraine air defences supplied by West force drop in Russian aircraft sorties
Russia has reduced the number of sorties it is flying above Ukraine considerably, which is likely the result of a continued high threat from Ukrainian air defence systems, mostly supplied by allied nations, according to the UK MoD.
-
![Raytheon space-based missile tracker hits programme milestone]()
Raytheon space-based missile tracker hits programme milestone
Raytheon's orbital payload for the US Space Force's Missile Track Custody programme has passed a key critical design review.
-
![Military assistance to Ukraine ramps up as winter approaches]()
Military assistance to Ukraine ramps up as winter approaches
The past 14 days have seen another wave of announcements of military assistance for Ukraine, including support from the US, UK, Norway and Germany.
-
![BFBS offers MiPlayer welfare solution to new markets]()
BFBS offers MiPlayer welfare solution to new markets
Improving the welfare of personnel is critical to tackling recruitment and retention challenges.
