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“SBX ABM Radar: Somewhere Over the Rainbow?” linked to papers covering a number of the issues faced by Raytheon’s giant floating X-band radar. If it succeeds, the Sea-Based X-Band radar can greatly aid both testing and flexible response around the world, providing a 2,000 ton, incredibly sensitive radar that can track ballistic missiles over very long ranges. At the moment it’s experiencing teething problems, not unusual for such new technologies but a situation that cannot continue indefinitely.
Meanwhile, Raytheon Company has announced a $32.7 million subcontract to provide sustainment support for the X-Band Radar (XBR) portion of the Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX). The award was made by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, as SBX is considered to be part of the Ground Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), and Boeing is the prime contractor for that segment.
Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) will provide trained personnel for on-platform sustainment and operation of the XBR, along with radar maintenance and development of spares. The contract will run through 2007, and work will be performed at the company’s Missile Defense Center in Woburn, MA; the Integrated Air Defense Center in Andover, MA; and Raytheon Technical Services Company on site at the SBX platform.