Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) announced on 24 July that it has engaged with RTX subsidiary Raytheon to supply components of the SPY-6(V) active electronically scanned array 3D radar for US Navy (USN) vessels.
According to MELCO, the agreement with Raytheon paves the way for production of SPY-6(V) components to be supplied to the USN. It also presents a future opportunity for the Japanese company to participate in the USN defence-equipment supply chain business via Raytheon.
Earlier in June Raytheon was awarded a US$677 million contract to continue AN/SPY-6(V) radar production for the USN, the third option exercised from a March 2022 hardware, production and sustainment contract that could be worth up to US$3 billion over five years. Under this latest deal, Raytheon will produce seven additional radars, increasing the total number of radars under contract for procurement to 38.
The SPY-6 family of radars is projected to be deployed on 65 USN ships over the next 10 years to defend against air, surface, and ballistic threats.
MELCO noted that it has had a successful relationship with Raytheon since the 1960s.
“Through its supply and maintenance of defense equipment, Mitsubishi Electric is committed to strengthening Japan-US security cooperation based on the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology set out by the Japanese government in 2014,” the company said in its statement.
MELCO has in recent months strengthened its international industry relationships. In January, it signed a teaming agreement with Northrop Grumman to cooperate on integrated air and missile defence capabilities for Japan’s ground-based missile defence systems.
The proposed solution will reportedly be based on Northrop Grumman’s modular and scalable Integrated Battle Command System, which is currently being deployed by the US Army.
by Jr Ng
