The test’s tracking of a satellite target is one of several programme developments illustrating SPY-7’s capacity to evolve and meet wider integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) threats.
Mike Koch, Lockheed Martin’s European Mission Systems programme manager, said at the briefing:
“On 13 December 2024, we successfully achieved our first live radar track with the SPY-7(V)2 radar at our ASIC [Aegis-SCOMBA Integration Center] facility in Moorestown, NJ,”
SCOMBA is Spain’s Navantia Sistemas designed-and-built combat management system (CMS).
In mid-2024, SPY-7 completed critical design review, enabling the company to begin full-rate production while continuing to build, integrate, and test the engineering development model (EDM) demonstrator array and radar at Moorestown, said Koch.
“The first live track is a very important event for any first-of-class radar,” Koch explained. “It’s where tactical hardware and software are joined and operated to successfully track live airborne targets of interest.”
The test was conducted on the ASIC ‘far-field’ range “that allows us to do the full, end-to-end combat system integration with live radar tracks”, said Koch. Preparation on the range, including test and integration work, began in late summer.
A satellite target was tracked in the test. A commercial aircraft has also been tracked with the system. While the F-110 programme has an anti-air warfare (AAW) mission requirement and not a ballistic missile defence (BMD) need, Koch noted that SPY-7 is fully IAMD-capable.
“We continue to track targets of interest and incrementally integrate the radar,” Koch continued.
The test track was displayed on Lockheed’s radar system controller. However, Koch explained, “We’ll be able to demonstrate the full, end-to-end combat system and radar integration that will culminate with SCOMBA’s ability to display for the first time a live SPY-7 track.” This work is slated for completion by early Quarter Two 2025, within ongoing integration of all SPY-7 components with the Aegis and SCOMBA tactical equipment.
Koch said the test verified radar system operation, proved out Lockheed Martin’s integration and testing process for radars and combat systems, and marked the beginning of a series of performance tests across 2025 that will be key steps in the F-110 programme.
Further SPY-7 activities at Moorestown in 2025 will include testing its tracking against multiple live aircraft flying scripted profiles. The programme remains on track to deliver the first ship-set to Navantia in 2026, supporting lead frigate planned commissioning in early 2028, said Koch.
Carlos Lopez, Navantia’s F-110 Programme Manager, said ship one launch is slated for the second half of 2025, ship two keel laying is scheduled for around April 2025, and ship three build is set to begin within two months.
In the Russo-Ukraine war, the extensive use of cruise and ballistic missiles (including some with hypersonic capabilities) plus the emerging – now enduring – use of uncrewed aerial vehicles underlines the need to enhance IAMD capability in countering the air-based threat: this threat may be more significant in future conflicts featuring more aircraft activity (including fifth-generation planes).
“This latest demonstration for F-110 continues to demonstrate the ability of Lockheed Martin to scale naval radar technology for all missions, from AAW through to BMD,” said Koch.
Erica Grzenda, the company’s International Mission Systems Director, reiterated the importance of evolution and scalability in SPY-7 capability. Developed from a long-range discrimination radar (LRDR) technology baseline, this scalability is demonstrated by the fact three separate formats have been developed: a fixed land-based variant (LRDR, as used by the US Missile Defense Agency); a transportable land-based variant (TPY-6, being tested in Guam and already having demonstrated capability to track, engage, and intercept a ballistic missile); and SPY-7 as the maritime variant.
When considering expansion or evolution to meet different threats, the capability’s development into three different variants demonstrates its capacity to respond, said Grzenda. “When you look at the ability to take this technology that started with a sub-array suite building block, and scale it up …, [then] depending on how large a platform you’re willing and able to utilise, this is a perfect technology that allows you to use that scalability to your advantage.”
SPY-7’s own capability appeal is emphasized by three navies having selected it. Alongside Spain’s F-110 frigates receiving AN/SPY-7(V)2, the AN/SPY-7(V)1 system will be fitted on Japan’s two Aegis System Equipped Vessels (ASEVs), and Canada’s River-class future destroyers will carry a combat system combining AN/SPY-7(V)3, Aegis, and Lockheed Martin’s CMS-330.
The SPY-7/Aegis combination brings further capability and operational benefits against the evolving threat, said John Iovacchino, Lockheed Martin’s International Business Development lead for Multi-Domain Combat Solutions.
“The radar and Aegis are fully IAMD capable. Depending on the customer mission set, we can configure it as needed within the mission spaces,” Iovacchino explained. SPY-7’s software can be upgraded without needing to change the hardware, he added. Thus, as threats evolve, the software can be updated to maintain pace with those threats. This capacity has been shown in US Navy operations against Houthi rebel air and missile threats to Red Sea shipping off Yemen. Here, Aegis software updates were provided within 24 hours.
