Raytheon has installed the first land-based SPY-6(V)4 radar array at Wallops Island, Virginia, commencing land-based testing ahead of the backfit deployment on USS Pinckney (DDG 91).
Raytheon press release
Raytheon, an RTX business, has delivered and installed the first SPY-6(V)4 radar array at Surface Combat Systems Center at Wallops Island in Virginia, marking a major milestone for the U.S. Navy’s Flight IIA Destroyer modernization effort and the SPY-6 backfit program.
The Wallops site, a land‑based test facility situated over an open-water environment, will support extensive testing of the radar and its power and combat system interfaces ahead of installation on USS Pinckney (DDG 91), the first ship to be backfit with SPY‑6(V)4. SPY-6(V)4 is one of four variants in the SPY-6 family of radars, and is the only variant designed to backfit Flight IIA Destroyers. Initial testing will begin later this year and continue through mid‑2028.
“By leveraging the Wallops test site, we’ll be able to integrate SPY‑6(V)4 with its dedicated power system before it reaches the ship, reducing the amount of testing needed on DDG 91,” said Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon. “That means less time in the shipyard, more time dedicated to the mission, and a smoother path for future backfit ships.”
DDG 91 is scheduled to be available for the SPY-6(V)4 backfit from late 2026 to 2028. The Navy and Raytheon are using the Wallops site to meet this tight schedule and ensure a smooth transition from maritime environment testing to shipboard installation and operation.
The effort is a collaborative undertaking involving the Navy, the NASA Wallops team and industry partners, reflecting a strong government-industry partnership focused on delivering enhanced capability to the surface fleet.
Other SPY-6 radar variants are already onboard two commissioned U.S. Navy ships and have been installed on 11 additional ships currently undergoing required testing in preparation for commissioning. Over the next decade, SPY-6 is expected to be deployed on more than 50 U.S. Navy ships, enhancing defense against air, surface, ballistic and electronic warfare threats.
Raytheon’s SPY-6 family of radars is built on more than a decade of design, testing and manufacturing experience and has been validated by successful performance at sea. The company has invested $800 million to modernize its radar manufacturing facilities and expand production capacity. With these upgrades, Raytheon is positioned to double SPY-6 output by 2028, helping ensure long-term availability and lowering cost for the Navy.
