The Ground Based Radar Prototype (GBR-P) produced by Raytheon Systems Company, a unit of Raytheon Company successfully tracked a satellite, ahead of the GBR-P program schedule and a mere six days after being approved to operate at full power.
The GBR-P tracked the satellite for 350 seconds, demonstrating
the ability of the system to gather data for radar calibration and
providing initial verification of the system's critical
electro-mechanical scan technology. Tracking of the satellite was
deliberately terminated after reaching range safety limits. The radar
uses technology and hardware developed by Raytheon Systems Company on
the Ground Based Radar program.
The Raytheon GBR-P will provide precision track of threats as
well as discrimination and classification of exo-atmospheric objects.
The GBR-P program, which has been underway since 1995, is managed by
the US Army GBR Program Office in Huntsville, Ala. Initial testing is
scheduled for completion in 1999.
Raytheon Systems Company, part of the Boeing Lead System
Integrator Team for National Missile Defense (NMD), plans to use the
GBR-P as a building block in the development of the radar required for
NMD. The ground-based radar will be integrated with space-based
sensors to provide a total sensor solution for the NMD system. The NMD
Program is currently in a three-year development phase, with a
deployment decision possible in 2000. If deployed, based upon the
potential ballistic missile threat to the United States, Raytheon,
potentially, could receive contracts worth several hundred million
dollars.
Next year the GBR-P will serve as a key test asset in the NMD
Integrated System Tests, which will also include Command and Control,
booster, and Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle elements.
