US Army LTAMDS Radar: The United States Army has approved the Lower-Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor, or LTAMDS, for low-rate initial production. This new radar system, made by Raytheon, will take the place of the older Patriot radar that has been in service for years. It is a major step forward in improving how the Army defends against missiles and air threats. LTAMDS is now a key part of the Army’s larger plan to modernize its air and missile defense systems.
The Army wanted to replace the whole Patriot system with new equipment from open competition. Later, it changed the plan and decided to get new radar and command systems separately.
This change allowed the Army to bring in better technology faster. According to Republic World, the new radar offers full 360-degree coverage, and the Army will use it together with the Integrated Battle Command System, or IBCS, which is already in the field. This gives the Army a more flexible and powerful defense setup.
Radar will help US significantly
Major General Frank Lozano, who leads the Army’s missiles and space programs, called LTAMDS “a huge, significant capability.”
He said it gives much better performance than the old Patriot radar. In an interview, he said, “This radar gives us a full 360-degree view and is a game-changer for our air defense system.”
Raytheon got the contract to build this new radar in 2019. The company had to deliver six test models in five years. Even with tight deadlines, the project stayed on schedule. The Army gave it extra time for testing to make sure the radar worked well. So far, LTAMDS has gone through over 10,000 hours of testing in harsh weather and passed eight live missile tests. Now that it has completed all checks, the Army is ready to send it out for real use.
Two of the early radar units will go to Guam as the first step in fielding the system. These will work with the IBCS and other control systems to help protect the region. Guam is an important part of the U.S. defense in the Pacific, especially with rising threats from other powerful countries.
Tom Laliberty, who leads land and air defense systems at Raytheon, said, “From contract to theatre deployment in under six years this is unheard of in a program of this scale.” He added that the radar passed tough tests in rain, wind, dust, and during long road trips.
Future Ready with New Technology
LTAMDS will work with missiles the Army already uses, including PAC-2 and PAC-3 MSE interceptors. This makes the radar very useful in many situations, from shooting down cruise missiles to stopping advanced hypersonic threats. It gives the Army flexibility to defend in different regions and from different kinds of attacks.
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Right now, the Army plans to build about 10 units in this first round. Eventually, they want 94 radars. Poland has already ordered 12 radars, making it the first country outside the U.S. to buy LTAMDS. This radar is built with a software system that can be updated, so it will stay useful for many years.
The new radar does cost a bit more than the old one. The older Patriot radar costs around $110 to $115 million, while LTAMDS is about $125 to $130 million per unit. But for the extra cost, the Army gets better technology. Officials are also working to bring the cost down and to shorten how long it takes to make each radar from 40 months to 36 months.
The Army plans to do more testing in late 2026. Full production will likely begin in 2028. Maj. Gen. Lozano said, “This is a $13 billion lifecycle program, and it’s one that gives us overmatch well into the future.”
