The U.S. Army has given the go-ahead for initial low-scale production of the new Raytheon-designed Low Altitude Air and Missile Defense Radar (LTAMDS), which is set to replace the aging Patriot system after more than 15 years of service. This decision marks a milestone in the modernization of the country's air and missile defense, integrating the most advanced sensor, command and control technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"The LTAMDS not only doubles the capability of the Patriot radar, but offers full 360-degree coverage, a quantum leap in our defensive capabilities.\"<\/em>Frank Lozano, executive officer for missile and space programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the contract award in 2019, Raytheon has made exceptional progress, manufacturing six prototypes and putting them through more than 10,000 hours of testing, including eight major missile flight tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"I know of no other program at Raytheon that has advanced as well and as quickly as this one.\"<\/em>said Tom Laliberty, president of the company's Air and Land Defense Systems business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The combination of the LTAMDS with Northrop Grumman's Integrated Battle Command System and Patriot PAC-2 and PAC-3 MSE missiles will provide the U.S. Army with a more agile, versatile and comprehensive air defense that is ready to meet the most advanced threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Army plans to procure 94 LTAMDS radars, starting with an initial batch of approximately 10 units during the low-rate production phase, which will run through 2028. In addition, Poland has become the system's first international customer, with an order for 12 radars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The current construction time for a LTAMDS is 40 months, but with the intervention of a consulting firm to optimize the supply chain, this is expected to be reduced to 36 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each LTAMDS unit currently costs between $125 million and $130 million, very close to the cost of the current Patriot radar, despite offering far superior technological capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We are building the world's most advanced radar at about the same price as its predecessor. This demonstrates effective resource management and a strong commitment to long-term national security.\"<\/em>Lozano stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The all-digital, software-based LTAMDS radar will enable continuous upgrades to maintain its relevance against evolving threats. With an estimated total lifetime cost of $13 billion, it is expected to remain in service for several decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first systems will be deployed as prototypes in Guam, a strategic point for Indo-Pacific defense. Initial operational testing and formal evaluation is scheduled to take place in the last quarter of fiscal 2026, with full rate production planned for 2028.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the implementation of the LTAMDS, the U.S. Army not only takes a decisive step in the modernization of its air defense, but also strengthens its ability to protect national and international airspace against emerging threats, in a context of increasing global tension.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" El Ej\u00e9rcito de Estados Unidos ha dado luz verde a la producci\u00f3n inicial a baja escala del nuevo Radar de Defensa A\u00e9rea y Misil de Baja Altitud (LTAMDS), dise\u00f1ado por Raytheon, que est\u00e1 llamado a reemplazar al veterano sistema Patriot tras m\u00e1s de 15 a\u00f1os de servicio. Esta decisi\u00f3n marca un hito en la modernizaci\u00f3n […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1848,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[72,148,147],"class_list":["post-1847","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industria","tag-defensa","tag-ltamds","tag-radar"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAccelerated development with unprecedented results<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Large-scale production on the way: Poland, first international customer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
An advanced system at a competitive cost<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Next steps: final testing and deployment to Guam<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n