Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) System

The Air & Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) System, managed by the Navy, aims to enhance naval capabilities through the AN/SPY-6(V) Family of Radars. This initiative focuses on providing multi-mission capabilities, including long-range detection and tracking of ballistic missiles and defense against air and surface threats. The program is designed to improve radar sensitivity and bandwidth, enabling effective detection and engagement of advanced threats. The AN/SPY-6(V)1 variant is specifically tailored for the DDG 51 Arleigh Burke class Flight III guided missile destroyers, offering enhanced ballistic missile defense and area air defense capabilities.

The AMDR program also includes the AN/SPY-6(V)2 and (V)3 variants, known as the Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar (EASR), which support air traffic control, situational awareness, and ship self-defense. These radars are intended for use on Nimitz class carriers, America class LHAs, San Antonio class LPDs, Ford class CVNs, and Constellation class FFGs. Additionally, the AN/SPY-6(V)4 variant focuses on backfitting existing DDG 51 Flight IIA destroyers with advanced radar technology using Active Electronically-Steered Array (AESA) and digital beamforming technology.

Key objectives of the AMDR program include modularity in hardware and software design to allow for scalable upgrades throughout the service life of the radars. The program emphasizes open architecture to facilitate future enhancements. Efforts such as Advanced Distributed Radar (ADR), Agnostic Signal Processing for Increased Radar Efficiency (ASPIRE), and High Efficiency High Powered Amplifier (HPA) development are integral to improving radar performance. These initiatives aim to support Distributed Maritime Operations by enabling cooperative radar operations across multiple ships.

In FY25, significant efforts will focus on integrating SPY-6(V)1 with AEGIS Baseline 10 systems and conducting advanced radar capability testing at the Advanced Radar Development Evaluation Laboratory (ARDEL). The program will also prioritize hardware developments such as second-source RF Heads and high-efficiency HPAs while continuing modeling and simulation efforts to support combat system test beds. These activities are crucial for ensuring that the AMDR system meets its performance requirements across various naval platforms.