Raytheon to build Ku Band MFRFS radar prototype

Raytheon has announced that it has been awarded a contract for the prototype build of the Ku Band Multi-Function RF System (MFRFS) Sense and Warn (S&W) radars for the US Army. The contract, worth $45.5 million, was announced 20 March 2012.

The contract is a follow-on to an ongoing effort being performed by Raytheon to improve the performance of the Counter Rocket Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) S&W systems currently fielded at forward operating bases in theatre of operations.

According to Raytheon, the contract will see the company procure long-lead material and subsystems for Ku Band MFRFS prototype systems to be built in 2012. The work is in support of Program Directorate C-RAM under PEO Missiles and Space in Huntsville, Ala.

The development of the Ku Band MFRFS system heavily leverages technology developed by Raytheon on the Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program. As a precursor to the Ku Band MFRFS variant, Raytheon developed, tested and deployed a Low Quadrant Elevation (QE) MFRFS C-RAM S&W system in 14 months, utilising residual assets from the FCS programme. Eighteen additional Low QE systems, for C-RAM applications, will be deployed during the first half of 2012 using FCS assets.

Raytheon said that both the Low QE MFRFS and the Ku Band MFRFS systems provide improved S&W times, virtually eliminate false alarms and improve coverage of currently fielded C-RAM systems. The Ku Band system will further improve performance and reduce logistics costs.