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]

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 a Japanese electronics company Fujitsu, according to Lockheed Martin.[3]

Construction in Alaska for the LRDR is scheduled to begin in 2019,[1] tentatively at Clear Air Force Station in central Alaska.[4]

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 fairs 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.[5]

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 F-110 frigate.[6]

Lockheed Martin is promoting this version of radar as the AN/SPY-1 refurbishment program to the US Navy to extend the lifespan of Ticonderoga-class cruiser and Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to beyond 2040s.[7]

References
  1. Alaska's Long Range Discrimination Radar on Track for 2020, Jen Judson, DefenseNews.com, 16 August 2016
  2. https://missilethreat.csis.org/defsys/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. On the result of component selection of the Aegis system (Aegis Ashore) on land deployment(Japanese) Ministry of Defense Japan, 30 July 2018
  6. "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.
  7. Lockheed Martin Advocates Accelerating Aegis, SPY-1 Upgrades USNI.org January 10, 2017
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