Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS)

The Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) is the U.S. Army's newest system for air and missile defense. It is slated to serve as the primary radar component within the Army's future Integrated Air and Missile Defense system. Raytheon created LTAMDS to replace their existing AN/MPQ-53/65 Radar in use by the U.S. Army for the Patriot missile system.

According to the Missile Defense Advocacy Agency, the LTAMDS achieves 360-degree detection using multiple radar panels. A large main radar array is located on the front of the trailer, which can fold down to resemble a standard trailer for an 18-wheeler. Additionally, there are two smaller fold-down radar arrays on the back of the trailer, positioned to face out to the right and left at an angle. These arrays work in tandem to detect and engage multiple threats simultaneously from any direction, significantly enhancing situational awareness and response capabilities.

Despite its compact size, the primary array of LTAMDS boasts more than double the power of the Patriot Air and Missile Defense System's array, resulting in enhanced performance metrics. LTAMDS not only integrates seamlessly into the Army's Integrated Air and Missile Defense architecture but also ensures compatibility with existing Patriot system infrastructure, safeguarding previous investments by military customers.

LTAMDS primarily utilizes C-band radar for its missions. However, its dual-band frequency functionality is a crucial design feature aimed at addressing the Army's capability requirements for the long term. In addition to C-band, LTAMDS employs S-band and X-band frequencies for missile communication and target acquisition through deep surveillance. This multi-band system capitalizes on the strengths of GaN technology, enabling LTAMDS to be integrated into various weapons systems and provide comprehensive data to IBCS nodes.

The LTAMDS is slated to be able to support the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE).

In development.

As of October 2023, Raytheon has built six LTAMDS radars since the contract was awarded to Raytheon in 2019. Developmental testing is expected to continue through 2024.

In 2017, four companies were chosen to come up with design concepts for the LTAMDS; they were, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Technovative Applications.

Defense News reported on Oct. 31, 2018, the U.S. Army formally announced its plan to conduct a missile defense radar "sense-off" to replace the aging Patriot radar within its Integrated Air and Missile Defense system (IAMD) under development. This initiative aimed to address challenges faced by the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) program, which had struggled for over a decade to develop a new radar system. The sense-off sought to reset the LTAMDS program, which had faced delays and uncertainties. Previous efforts to replace the Patriot radar, such as the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), were canceled, prompting the Army to explore alternatives with 360-degree detection capability. Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Technovative Applications were selected to develop design concepts for the replacement radar, with Raytheon and Lockheed Martin continuing technology development under the program. Toward the end of 2018, Raytheon and Lockheed were chosen to continue technology development.

The U.S. Army released a request for proposals asking for prototypes on May 14, 2019.

Raytheon was contracted by the U.S. Army to build six production-representative units of the LTAMDS on Oct. 17, 2019. The contract was valued at US$384 million. Congress mandated that the Army field an LTAMDS battalion of four sensors by December 2023.

Crane Aerospace & Electronics was chosen in November 2019 to provide power systems for power control and conditioning.

The first front array for LTAMDS was finished on Feb. 20, 2020.

GovconWire reported on July 14, 2022, that Raytheon received a US$354 million three-year contract to build additional prototypes of the LTAMDS for the U.S. Army. The Army received two bids for the cost-plus-fixed-fee contract and obligated US$104.8 million at the time of award, according to the DoD.

Raytheon was awarded a US$122 million three-year contract on Oct. 31, 2022, for the Increment III upgrade to the LTAMDS.

In July 2020, Raytheon announced Orolia USA as a subcontractor. tasked with providing position, navigation, and timing (PNT) capabilities for the LTAMDS through its SecureSync program.

Defense News reported on Aug. 9, 2023, that the Army initiated developmental testing for its future missile defense radar, the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS), in a new two-phased approach. Developmental testing was slated to proceed in two waves, with the first focusing on the main array and the second integrating all three arrays for full-sector capability testing in 2024. The Army aimed to equip the "first unit" with primary sector capability by December 2023. Following testing and operational assessment, an Engineering and Manufacturing Development decision was expected in FY25. Additionally, the Army planned to procure five LTAMDS systems in FY24, including three for the defense of Guam. The article also noted that the service had received the six required prototypes from Raytheon and completed contractor verification testing "a few weeks ago", adding that five of the systems were at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, and the sixth remained with Raytheon at its Andover, Mass., facility for testing.

Raytheon reported on Oct. 5, 2023, that the radar completed 11 mission sets across a range of simulated operationally relevant environments. Results included the effective search and tracking of multiple targets, including drones, fixed-wing and rotary aircraft, cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missile surrogates. Tracks were maintained throughout the test flights as were direct communications with a PAC-3 missile, culminating with a simulated engagement against a TBM.

On Sept. 5, 2023, the Polish Minister of Defense approved a Letter of Acceptance with the U.S. Army to enhance its air and missile defense capabilities with 12 LTAMDS radars. When the foreign military sale is finalized, Poland, a NATO ally, will be the first international partner to purchase the radar, which will complement their existing Patriot system. The acquisition supports the Polish Government's WISŁA Phase 2 program. Five Polish industry partners, all members of the PGZ group, were slated to receive technology, equipment, and training to enable them to produce and maintain components of LTAMDS

On Nov. 16, 2023, Lockheed Martin achieved the first integration of the PAC-3 with the LTAMDS. This milestone was demonstrated during a flight test at White Sands Missile Range, where the PAC-3 successfully sent and received data from the LTAMDS radar to engage the Air Breathing Threat. The mission showcased the PAC-3's ability to maintain its proven Hit-to-Kill intercept performance while seamlessly integrating with the LTAMDS radar.

On Dec. 7, 2023, the U.S. Army completed a live-fire test of the LTAMDS. During the test, a surrogate threat system emulated a Tactical Ballistic Missile target with a representative trajectory. The Army Integrated Battle Command System successfully directed a Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Cost Reduction Initiative interceptor to engage the target. The PAC-3 CRI demonstrated successful acquisition and uplink/downlink communications throughout its trajectory, leading to the interception of the Tactical Ballistic Missile target.

Northrop Grumman reported on Dec. 14, 2023, that it completed the second live-fire demonstration integrating its Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) with the LTAMDS. During these tests, IBCS detected, identified, and tracked incoming threats while controlling a Patriot Advanced Capability – 3 to engage and defeat air-breathing cruise missiles and theater ballistic missile surrogates.

On March 21, 2024, Raytheon announced that its Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) successfully completed its fourth live-fire test as part of the U.S. Army's testing program. During the test, LTAMDS demonstrated its ability to detect, track, and guide a PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) to intercept a high-altitude, high-speed cruise missile surrogate. Military leaders from seven nations observed the radar's performance, highlighting its advanced capabilities.

On April 4, 2024, Northrop Grumman's Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) successfully integrated data from the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) to detect, track, and intercept a long-range cruise missile surrogate using a PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

Raytheon reported on July 28, 2024, that during the Valiant Shield 24 exercise, Raytheon successfully demonstrated a simulated missile engagement using the U.S. Army's LTAMDS and Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS), in conjunction with the U.S. Navy's Standard Missile-6 (SM-6).

The US Department of Defense (DoD) approved the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of Raytheon's Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) to Poland on July 31, 2024. A fixed-price-incentive USD2.09 million contract was awarded to Raytheon as part of the FMS for the low-rate initial production of LTAMDS, with production slated for completion by November 2028.

Raytheon, Arlington, Va., USA

 Poland                [12] (pending)

 USA                   [6]

PERFORMANCE
   Range                     62 mi (>100 km)

SENSORS/ELECTRONICS 
   Frequency                 C-band for primary mission; dual-frequency X and S-band for missile communication

GhostEye (Raytheon's designation)