26.05.2017, 17:29
Two modes, one outcome: ballistic missile defense
OREANDA-NEWS AN/TPY-2, the world’s most capable, mobile ballistic missile defense radar stands ready
The AN/TPY-2 has a record of flawless performance against all classes of ballistic missiles.
A hillside overlooking the Sea of Japan, a Pacific island, the mountains of southwest Asia. In the most challenging environments the Army Navy Transportable Radar Surveillance, or AN/TPY-2, scans the horizon to provide early warning of a missile launch.
That’s the forward based side of this dual mode radar. It also operates in terminal mode, where it tracks targets and guides interceptor missiles as part of the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense System, or THAAD.
As the prime contractor for the THAAD radar, Raytheon has supercharged the AN/TPY-2 so it can defend against increasingly complex ballistic missiles. As engineers build new radars for delivery to more countries, they modernized the hardware and software, infusing the latest technology throughout its major subsystems.
“The AN/TPY-2 was already a high performer – a Porsche of a radar,“ said Bryan Rosselli, director of missile defense programs. “Now we’ve gone beyond that. We’ve reengineered the entire system.”
The AN/TPY-2 can see ballistic missiles at vast distances. It’s designed for discrimination -- distinguishing between an actual threat and non-threats such as launch debris or countermeasures. For this critical task, the radar relies on an intricate chain of technology.
Along the surface of its antenna, transmit and receive modules generate and capture electromagnetic waves that enable the radar to see its environment. A recent Missile Defense Agency contract has paved the way for AN/TPY-2 to use Raytheon’s proven Gallium Nitride semiconductor technology in its antenna components. GaN will amplify the radar’s signal power beyond what was previously possible. That means a radar that can see further and stop ballistic missiles sooner.
“GaN is what you want in a radar antenna because it can handle the heat,” said Adam Art, chief engineer for the AN/TPY-2 team. “We’re pumping tremendous amounts of energy through the radar transmitter. And we’ve refined our GaN production to get the best thermal conductivity, so the electronics are more reliable at higher power levels.”
Behind the antenna, engineers upgraded the digital receiver and exciter pipeline and beamforming circuitry, which handles the analog to digital conversion and tells the radar where to look next. They also boosted the computational horsepower in the “back end” signal processors. The more powerful tech means radar operators get a clearer picture of the size, shape, direction and velocity of objects in what can often be a visually complex environment.
“The x86 microprocessors at the back end maximize the performance through the entire radar,” said Art. “And with the advanced digital circuitry we can continue to increase the radar’s power or discrimination through additional software upgrades.”
The ongoing AN/TPY-2 makeover brings a new level of missile defense protection whether the radar is used in its forward based mode or as part of the THAAD system.
“The AN/TPY-2 was already very highly regarded," said Rosselli. "The continued modernization ensures it will remain the most powerful ballistic missile defense radar."
The AN/TPY-2 has a record of flawless performance against all classes of ballistic missiles.
A hillside overlooking the Sea of Japan, a Pacific island, the mountains of southwest Asia. In the most challenging environments the Army Navy Transportable Radar Surveillance, or AN/TPY-2, scans the horizon to provide early warning of a missile launch.
That’s the forward based side of this dual mode radar. It also operates in terminal mode, where it tracks targets and guides interceptor missiles as part of the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense System, or THAAD.
As the prime contractor for the THAAD radar, Raytheon has supercharged the AN/TPY-2 so it can defend against increasingly complex ballistic missiles. As engineers build new radars for delivery to more countries, they modernized the hardware and software, infusing the latest technology throughout its major subsystems.
“The AN/TPY-2 was already a high performer – a Porsche of a radar,“ said Bryan Rosselli, director of missile defense programs. “Now we’ve gone beyond that. We’ve reengineered the entire system.”
The AN/TPY-2 can see ballistic missiles at vast distances. It’s designed for discrimination -- distinguishing between an actual threat and non-threats such as launch debris or countermeasures. For this critical task, the radar relies on an intricate chain of technology.
Along the surface of its antenna, transmit and receive modules generate and capture electromagnetic waves that enable the radar to see its environment. A recent Missile Defense Agency contract has paved the way for AN/TPY-2 to use Raytheon’s proven Gallium Nitride semiconductor technology in its antenna components. GaN will amplify the radar’s signal power beyond what was previously possible. That means a radar that can see further and stop ballistic missiles sooner.
“GaN is what you want in a radar antenna because it can handle the heat,” said Adam Art, chief engineer for the AN/TPY-2 team. “We’re pumping tremendous amounts of energy through the radar transmitter. And we’ve refined our GaN production to get the best thermal conductivity, so the electronics are more reliable at higher power levels.”
Behind the antenna, engineers upgraded the digital receiver and exciter pipeline and beamforming circuitry, which handles the analog to digital conversion and tells the radar where to look next. They also boosted the computational horsepower in the “back end” signal processors. The more powerful tech means radar operators get a clearer picture of the size, shape, direction and velocity of objects in what can often be a visually complex environment.
“The x86 microprocessors at the back end maximize the performance through the entire radar,” said Art. “And with the advanced digital circuitry we can continue to increase the radar’s power or discrimination through additional software upgrades.”
The ongoing AN/TPY-2 makeover brings a new level of missile defense protection whether the radar is used in its forward based mode or as part of the THAAD system.
“The AN/TPY-2 was already very highly regarded," said Rosselli. "The continued modernization ensures it will remain the most powerful ballistic missile defense radar."
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