The Raytheon-developed X- Band Radar (XBR) portion of the Sea-Based X-Band Radar, or SBX, performed successfully in a flight test of the Ground Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System conducted by the Missile Defense Agency March 20, 2007.
GMD is a major element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), and Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is the prime contractor for both GMD and SBX.
“This mission is particularly significant because it successfully demonstrated XBR interoperability within the Ground Based Midcourse Defense system to support interceptor engagement,” said Pete Franklin, vice president, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems Integrated Air and Missile Defense.
XBR, built by Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN – News), will provide missile tracking, discrimination and hit assessment to the GMD portion of the BMDS being developed by the Missile Defense Agency. The XBR will help identify the hostile warhead from the decoys and countermeasures, providing additional capability for interceptor missiles to protect the U.S. and its friends and allies from ballistic missile attacks.
Aboard the maneuverable SBX, the XBR can be positioned in the ocean to support both testing and provide radar coverage for possible threat missile launches throughout the world and is a critical component of the missile defense system.
Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon’s leader in Joint Battlespace Integration providing affordable, integrated solutions to a broad international and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Armed Forces and the Department of Homeland Security.
Raytheon Company, with 2006 sales of $20.3 billion, is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs more than 80,000 people worldwide.
