Defense firms are wrapping up tests of their Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) as part of the Navy competition to build the system intended for the next version of Arleigh Burke-class (DDG-51) destroyers, a company executive said yesterday.
Northrop Grumman’s vice president for its Advanced Concepts and Technology Division, Pat Antkowiak, said its testing consists of realistic scenarios to defend against air and ballistic missile threats and is on schedule for completion by August.
Northrop Grumman is working on AMDR under a development contract awarded by the Navy in 2010. Similar contracts were awarded to Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Raytheon [RTN]. All three companies are expected to submit final proposals by the July 31 deadline. A Lockheed Martin spokesman said its AMDR team is meeting its development milestones and is poised to submit a proposal.
Raytheon’s program manager for AMDR, Jim Bennett, said his company expects to have completed its testing by the RFP deadline.
“Between now and then, a lot of our work will have been completed,” he said.
An award is expected by the end of this year that contains options for the low-rate initial-production (LRIP) phase of the program.
The most significant upgrade planned for the Flight III DDG-51s, AMDR is designed to be more powerful than radars currently deployed and integrates air theater and ballistic missile defense detection, tracking and engagement.
AMDR is to replace the Lockheed Martin-built AN/SPY 1 on DDG-51s. The Navy is seeking congressional approval to buy up to 10 Flight IIA DDG-51s under a multi-year contract, but plans to shift to the Flight III version around the seventh vessel in 2016 if AMDR is ready.