The U.S. Army has recently awarded Raytheon Company a contract modification to an existing contract for radar digital processor (RDP) upgrade kits. The contract modification will enable the U.S. Army to finish upgrading their entire inventory of Patriots. The U.S. Army began phasing the upgrade kits into its Patriot fleet in 2013.
Patriot Radar array. Image Credit: Raytheon
The Patriot batteries upgraded with the RDP will be able to better detect and identify targets, and have enhanced surveillance. They will also cost less to operate and maintain since the current processor has more than 700 components, but the RDP has fewer than 100.
According to Raytheon, it will also possess a 40% higher reliability rate than systems with the older component.
"When one country develops an upgrade or improvement to Patriot, that capability is made available to the entire 13-nation Partnership," says Ralph Acaba, Raytheon vice president of Integrated Air and Missile Defense. "With more than 220 Patriot fire units owned by 13 countries, countries whose industrial bases participate in manufacturing Patriot have a very large potential export market."
The RDP and other Patriot upgrades leverage the lessons learned from Patriot's more than 190 combat employments, 700 flight tests and 2,500-plus ground tests.
