Long Range Discrimination Radar

The Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) that is planned for operational service in Alaska in 2020 is part of the United States's Ground-Based Midcourse Defense anti-ballistic missile system. The main contractor is Lockheed Martin, under a US$784 million contract from the Missile Defense Agency in October 2015.[1]

AN/SPY-7
Country of originUnited States
TypeActive electronically scanned array early-warning radar
FrequencyS band
Other NamesLong Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR)

LRDR is a gallium nitride (GaN)-based, solid-state active electronically scanned array (AESA) early-warning radar[1] that allows for continuous coverage, even when it is undergoing maintenance.[2] The radar consists of individual solid state radar blocks that can be combined to scale up the size of the radar. The multi-purpose GaN device used on the prototype version of the LRDR is from the Japanese electronics company Fujitsu, according to Lockheed Martin.[3]

Construction in Alaska for the LRDR was scheduled to begin in 2019,[1] tentatively at Clear Space Force Station in central Alaska.[4] Each AESA's dimensions are 60 feet high by 60 feet wide; the field of view is 220 degrees.[5]

In late February 2021, the Missile Defense Agency said that the radar installation was underway, with Initial Operational Capability to be achieved in 2021.[6] Testing for Full Operational Capability is expected by 2023.[5]

In mid-August 2023, the Flight Test Other-26 (FTX-26) was cancelled due to an anomaly with the live ballistic missile target. When operation, the LRDR will be tied into the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system and the Command and Control, Battle Management and Communications system.[7]

AN/SPY-7(V)1

The AN/SPY-7(V)1 is the official designation of an LRDR-derivative used with the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. On 30 July 2018, the Japanese government approved a plan to purchase two pairs of AN/SPY-7(V)1 for the Aegis Ashore facility and will be installed in Yamaguchi Prefecture and Akita Prefecture. The first operation is expected to start from 2025, by Japan Ground Self Defense Force.[8]

Missile Defense Agency has also decided to use AN/SPY-7(V)1 for the Aegis Ashore to be installed in Hawaii. Derivatives of the AN/SPY-7(V)1 will be used on the Canadian Surface Combatant and the Spanish F-110 frigate.[9]

In September 2020, AN/SPY-7(V)1 was chosen by Canada as the primary radar for its future Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) along with CMS-330 Combat Management System with Aegis Combat System.[10]

Lockheed Martin promoted this version of radar as the AN/SPY-1 refurbishment program to the US Navy to extend the lifespan of the Ticonderoga-class cruiser and Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to beyond the 2040s.[11] In December 2021, the AN/SPY-6 AESA radar from Raytheon was selected to retrofit Flight IIA Arleigh Burke destroyers; the same radar is used on Flight III ships.[12][13]

References
  1. Alaska's Long Range Discrimination Radar on Track for 2020, Jen Judson, DefenseNews.com, 16 August 2016
  2. "Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR)".
  3. Lockheed Martin Demonstrates Next Generation Aegis Ashore Solution Lockheed Martin, Jan 11 2018
  4. Department of Defense Identifies Planned Site of Future Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR), DoD press release NR-193-15, 22 May 2015, accessed 17 August 2016
  5. C. Todd Lopez, DOD News (7 Dec 2021) Long-Range Discrimination Radar Reshapes Adversaries' Calculus for Attacks Against U.S. Homeland
  6. MDA says Alaska-based missile defense radar will be operational in 2021, Jen Judson, DefenseNews, 2021-03-03
  7. Missile Defense Agency cancels test of Long-Range Discrimination Radar, Jen Judson, Defense News, 2023-09-02
  8. On the result of component selection of the Aegis system (Aegis Ashore) on land deployment(Japanese) Ministry of Defense Japan, 30 July 2018
  9. "U.S. Government Designates Lockheed Martin's Latest Generation Radar: AN/SPY-7(V)1 - Nov 14, 2019". Media - Lockheed Martin. Retrieved 2019-12-24.
  10. "Lockheed Martin Signs SPY-7 Radar Contract for CSC Frigate". 11 November 2020.
  11. Lockheed Martin Advocates Accelerating Aegis, SPY-1 Upgrades USNI.org January 10, 2017
  12. "U.S. Navy's SPY-6 Family of Radars". www.raytheonmissilesanddefense.com. Raytheon. 12 July 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  13. Justin Katz Raytheon to start backfitting destroyers with SPY-6 radar. Breaking Defense (11 Jan 2022)
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