Raytheon has secured a $1.7-billion US Army contract to deliver its Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) to the United States and Poland. The package includes nine radars as well as spares, engineering support, and testing services, with Poland designated as the first overseas operator of the system.
The LTAMDS radar, built with 360-degree AESA technology, is intended to replace the decades-old Patriot radar. It recently cleared Milestone C after successfully completing eight flight tests, paving the way for low-rate initial production slated to begin in early 2025. Designed for modern threat environments, the system offers enhanced target detection, missile tracking, and resilience against electronic interference.
The radar is integrated into the US Army’s broader Integrated Air and Missile Defense System, which relies on Northrop Grumman’s Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS). Poland became the first US ally to adopt IBCS in 2018, using it under the WISŁA program to connect existing Patriot components into a single digital architecture.
Poland has also taken a significant role in LTAMDS production. In September, state-owned Military Electronic Works (WZE) signed on as the first international supplier, manufacturing energy storage assemblies for the system. The move highlights growing US-Polish defense cooperation and strengthens Warsaw’s role in NATO’s air defense modernization.
