Lockheed Martin highlights SPY-7 radar capabilities and expanding global network [VIDEO]

The AN/TPY-6 radar in Guam is based on SPY-7 technology and uses the same Subarray Suite (SAS) radar building blocks as LRDR and all SPY-7 programmes. The “T” in TPY-6 stands for “Transportable” according to U.S. Department of Defense nomenclature, while “S” in SPY-7 denotes its “Sea-based” configuration.

In December 2025, Lockheed Martin supported the U.S. Missile Defense Agency in a Live Fire Test event where TPY-6, integrated with Aegis, successfully engaged a Mid-Range Ballistic Missile target using an SM-3 Block IIA interceptor. The system operates with 24/7 multi-mission capability and is set to transform the defence landscape in Guam.

SPY-7 technology will also be deployed in Japan’s Aegis System Equipped Vessel (ASEV), Spain’s F-110 Multi-Mission Frigate, and Canada’s River-Class Destroyer. Lockheed Martin recently hosted the first SPY-7 Users Conference at its Moorestown, New Jersey facility, bringing together government delegates from the U.S., Japan, Spain, and Canada.

“This global network of international users of the SPY-7 radar system gathered at the home of SPY-7 to collaborate and discuss the latest and greatest in radar technology,” the company stated. “It is our goal to help build a community of SPY-7 superusers who are changing the game when it comes to detecting, tracking, and taking down complex threats now, and in the future.”

The Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR), known as AN/FPY-X, is the foundation of SPY-7 and a core component of the U.S. homeland defence strategy against ballistic missile threats. Each of its two faces stands over 20 metres tall and wide, providing precise metric data to improve discrimination and support Ground-Based Interceptors in the Ballistic Missile Defense System.

LRDR combines solid-state radar technologies with advanced ballistic missile defence algorithms to counter evolving threats. It is designed to replace existing sensors with enhanced long-range detection and tracking capabilities.

The Subarray Suite (SAS) used in SPY-7 is a modular, miniature radar unit that can be combined like building blocks to form larger systems. Lockheed Martin has produced over 10,000 SAS units, with full-rate production enabling flexible deployment tailored to various mission needs.

SPY-7 is the only radar that incorporates Polarization Diversity, a feature that allows it to control visibility of targets based on mission requirements. “Just like how the right polarized sunglasses can reduce glare on glass on the surface of water,” the company explained, “SPY-7 can detect and discriminate complex threats with unparalleled precision.”

Lockheed Martin is also focused on long-term sustainability through industrial partnerships, particularly in Japan. In 2024, the company signed agreements with Fujitsu Global and NEC Corporation to support the production and sustainment of SPY-7 components as part of its Industrial Cooperation goals.

“By manufacturing critical components for the SPY-7 radar locally, we ensure confidence in the system’s long-term support and sustainability,” the company stated. These partnerships are aimed at growing the defence workforce and ensuring SPY-7 remains a reliable asset for decades to come.

Source: Lockheed Martin.