TEWKSBURY, Mass., July 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army
Research Laboratory (ARL) has entered into a collaborative alliance
via a $1.1 million grant with
Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) to develop Scalable, Agile, Multimode,
Front End Technology, or SAMFET, for the Army's Next Generation
Radar program (NGR). As part of a 24-month cooperative research
agreement within ARL's Advanced RF Technologies Program, Raytheon
will work with ARL to create and demonstrate modular building
blocks that can easily integrate with next-generation radar
systems.
NGR will enhance radar-reliant Air Defense and Counter Rocket
and Mortar system performance, particularly in portable
configurations such as hand-held, vehicle-mounted and airborne
deployments. Raytheon will work with ARL to explore new approaches
for the design and fabrication of modular components that will fit
into NGR's open architecture, offering processing flexibility,
agility and efficiency across radar bands.
"Raytheon's storied track record of innovation in applied radar
technologies uniquely positions us to play a critical role in the
development of the U.S. Army's Next Generation Radar system," said
Colin Whelan, Raytheon's vice
president of Advanced Technology. "With the [United States] Army Research Lab, our team
will leverage Raytheon's deep investment and unmatched expertise as
a pioneer in gallium nitride technology to dramatically improve
radar capabilities and keep the Army ahead of its adversaries for
many years to come."
The company's efforts to mature GaN for military production
earned Raytheon the highest OSD-rated manufacturing readiness level
of any organization in the defense industry. A semiconductor
material that can efficiently amplify high power signals at
microwave frequencies, GaN enables radars to operate up to five
times more powerfully than they would with older semiconductor
technology, and without overheating. Raytheon GaN components generate RF at 1/3 the
cost per watt compared to gallium arsenide alternatives, deliver
higher power density and efficiency, and have demonstrated mean
time between failures at an impressive 100 million hours. This will
enable Next Generation Radar to efficiently and affordably provide
much higher performance.
About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2015 sales of
$23 billion and 61,000 employees, is
a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil
government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of
innovation spanning 94 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art
electronics, mission systems integration,
C5I™ products and services, sensing,
effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80
countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Follow us on Twitter
@Raytheon.
Media Contact
Ian
Davis
+1.978.858.4135
idspr@raytheon.com
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SOURCE Raytheon Company