Raytheon to Update Air Force U-2 Reconnaissance Aircraft Radar Under $320M Contract

Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) secured a potential $320M contract from the U.S. Air Force to develop a new variant of an air-to-ground radar system used on the U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft.

The company said Monday it will equip the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System 2B with an electronically scanned array antenna to increase surveillance coverage and preserve the image resolution and mapping functions from the current ASARS-2A technology.

The system is designed to help pilots track moving and fixed targets on the ground.

“ASARS-2B allows the Dragon Lady to see further than ever before,” said Eric Ditmars, vice president of Raytheon’s secure sensor solutions business.

“That kind of range is crucial for commanders to achieve decision superiority – and it ensures that the U-2 remains a preferred option for manned airborne surveillance operations,” Ditmars added.

Raytheon and the Air Force completed a test flight of the 2B iteration at Edwards AF Base in California earlier this year.