Confirmed by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) on 18 November, the award combines Fiscal Year 2023 (FY2023) and FY2025 shipbuilding and conversion funds split 50/50. The contract option is part of a FY2024-28 production contract placed with Leonardo DRS earlier this year.
AN/SPQ-9B is an X-Band pulse Doppler, narrow beam multimode radar designed to detect small, fast-moving targets in the presence of clutter from ocean waves, rain and land returns, as well as chaff and jamming. The system is primarily used to provide horizon search and detection and tracking of low flying anti-ship cruise missiles, surface threats and low/slow flying aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and helicopters.
Below decks, the radar consists of three cabinets (processor, receiver/exciter and transmitter), a radar set control and a motor generator. Above decks, the radar uses a mechanically rotating, electronically stabilized antenna: the lightweight antenna consists of dual planar arrays mounted back-to-back, each connected to independent transmitters and receivers.
The AN/SPQ-9B radar is installed across a large portion of the US Navy’s surface fleet, including nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, large deck amphibious ships, guided missile cruisers, and guided missile destroyers. It is also fitted to US Coast Guard WMSL-750 Legend-class cutters.
Leonardo DRS was in September this year awarded a firm-fixed-price contract by NAVSEA for FY2024-28 production of AN/SPQ-9B radars. The contract, which covers the manufacture of up to 17 AN/SPQ-9B systems, includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the award up to valued at up to $236 million and extend production through to July 2030.
The base contract, valued at $66.2 million, covered purchases for the US Navy (77%) and the government of Japan (23%) under the Foreign Military Sales program. The 18 November amendment funds the first of four option years.
In March this year, Leonardo DRS was awarded a separate contract by NAVSEA to provide FY2024-2028 design agent and engineering services for the AN/SPQ-9B. Worth an initial $5.3 million, increasing to $26.1 million if all options are exercised, the contract scope includes system engineering, software development, hardware design, installation, safety, test, product updates, system upgrade and configuration management support.
Plans for a successor Future X-band Radar (FXR) have been in development for a number of years. The US Navy intends that the FXR should assume the existing functional capabilities of the AN/SPQ-9B radar while also delivering additional capability including dedicated tracking, missile communication, and advanced electronic protection.
The Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division is using a Saab X-band active array antenna (acquired through the Foreign Comparative Test program) as part of a radar prototype being used to evaluate technologies and techniques applicable to FXR. The prototype has been installed on a test tower on the Potomac River Test Range.
