The US Army has awarded Raytheon a $1.7-billion contract to supply the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) to both the United States and Poland. The agreement covers nine radars along with engineering services, spare parts, support, and testing. Poland will become the first international customer to integrate LTAMDS into its national air and missile defense framework.
The radar is designed as the next-generation replacement for the aging Patriot system, featuring a 360-degree active electronically scanned array (AESA). Following eight successful flight tests, LTAMDS achieved Milestone C, clearing it for low-rate initial production starting in early 2025. Its advanced design provides expanded detection and tracking capabilities, improving defenses against modern and emerging threats.
LTAMDS forms a key element of the US Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense System, which also incorporates Northrop Grumman’s Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS). Poland was the first allied nation to adopt IBCS back in 2018 as part of its WISŁA program, which integrates Patriot radars, launchers, and interceptors into a unified defense network.
In a landmark development, Poland’s Military Electronic Works (WZE) signed an agreement with Raytheon in September to supply energy storage modules for the LTAMDS program. This makes WZE the first international supplier for the radar, strengthening both Poland’s defense industry and the system’s global supply chain.
