RTX's Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor positioned for production

Rhea-AI Summary

RTX subsidiary Raytheon has achieved a significant milestone as its Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) transitions from prototype to production after receiving the Department of Defense's Major Capability Acquisition Milestone C designation. The system successfully completed eight flight tests, leading to U.S. Army validation and official program of record status.

Raytheon has already delivered the first six LTAMDS units to the U.S. Army under a 2019 contract. The company currently produces eight units annually and plans to increase production to 12 units to meet growing global demand. Two additional radars will be delivered later this year, with ongoing production for both U.S. Army and Poland, the first international customer. Approximately twelve other countries have expressed interest in the LTAMDS system.

Positive

• Successful transition from prototype to production phase
• Achieved Milestone C designation ahead of typical timeline
• First six LTAMDS units already delivered to U.S. Army
• Production capacity increasing from 8 to 12 units annually
• Secured first international customer (Poland)
• Strong international interest with 12 countries requesting information

Negative

• None.

Insights

Defense Industry Analyst

RTX's LTAMDS achieving production status represents significant revenue potential with secured U.S. Army adoption and growing international demand.

The transition of RTX's Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) to production phase marks a critical milestone in defense procurement. Achieving the Department of Defense's Major Capability Acquisition Milestone C designation formally validates the system's readiness after eight successful flight tests of increasing complexity.

What makes this particularly impressive is the accelerated timeline. As noted in the article, "Defense programs of this scale and complexity regularly take more than a decade to achieve Milestone C." RTX's ability to move through this process more rapidly by leveraging Congress's Middle-Tier Acquisition authority demonstrates exceptional program execution.

From a business perspective, RTX has established clear production momentum. The company has delivered the first six LTAMDS units to the U.S. Army from a 2019 contract and is maintaining production at eight units annually with plans to increase capacity to twelve units to meet demand - a 50% production capacity increase.

The secured contract with Poland represents the first international customer in what appears to be an expanding export market, with a dozen additional countries requesting information and pricing. This global interest suggests strong potential for a long-term production program.

The LTAMDS system's advanced 360-degree capability for integrated air and missile defense addresses sophisticated threats in modern warfare. As an official program of record for the U.S. Army supporting both homeland defense and expeditionary missions, LTAMDS provides RTX with a stable production program in its defense portfolio at a time when global demand for advanced air defense systems continues to rise.

LTAMDS transitions from prototype to production 

ANDOVER, Mass., April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, is transitioning to production of its Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor, or LTAMDS, after completing the U.S. Army's rigorous flight test program and achieving the Department of Defense's Major Capability Acquisition Milestone C designation.

LTAMDS has completed eight successful flight tests of increasing complexity to stress the radar and prove its capabilities against real-world threats. This led the Army to validate that the radar has reached Milestone C, initiating the production and deployment phase of the program. LTAMDS is now officially designated a program of record by the U.S. Army and ready to support both its U.S. homeland defense and expeditionary missions.

"This is an unprecedented achievement, with a development program of this magnitude transitioning from prototype to production and deployment at an accelerated pace," said Tom Laliberty, president of Land and Air Defense Systems at Raytheon. "Our collaborative partnership with the U.S. Army and our broad base of industry partners has driven the historic execution of the LTAMDS program in record time, delivering advanced 360-degree integrated air and missile defense capability."

The U.S. Army leveraged Middle-Tier Acquisition authority granted by Congress to rapidly prototype and field LTAMDS. Defense programs of this scale and complexity regularly take more than a decade to achieve Milestone C.

Raytheon recently delivered the first six LTAMDS to the U.S. Army funded by a 2019 contract award. The company is currently manufacturing eight additional LTAMDS radars per year and is ramping up annual production to 12 units to meet global demand. Raytheon will deliver radar seven and eight later this year and is producing radars for the U.S. Army and Poland that were contracted for in August 2024.

Poland is the first international customer to add LTAMDS to their air and missile defense architecture. A dozen additional countries are requesting information about LTAMDS and receiving pricing and availability estimates.

About Raytheon
Raytheon, an RTX business, is a leading provider of defense solutions to help the U.S. government, our allies and partners defend their national sovereignty and ensure their security. For more than 100 years, Raytheon has developed new technologies and enhanced existing capabilities in integrated air and missile defense, smart weapons, missiles, advanced sensors and radars, interceptors, space-based systems, hypersonics and missile defense across land, air, sea and space.

About RTX
RTX is the world's largest aerospace and defense company. With more than 185,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. Through industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon – we are advancing aviation, engineering integrated defense systems for operational success, and developing next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2024 sales of more than $80 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact corporatepr@rtx.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rtxs-lower-tier-air-and-missile-defense-sensor-positioned-for-production-302432847.html

SOURCE RTX

FAQ

What is the current production status of RTX's LTAMDS radar system?

RTX is currently manufacturing 8 LTAMDS units annually and plans to increase to 12 units per year to meet global demand.

How many LTAMDS units has RTX delivered to the U.S. Army so far?

RTX has delivered the first six LTAMDS units to the U.S. Army under a 2019 contract, with two more units scheduled for delivery later this year.

Which country is the first international customer for RTX's LTAMDS?

Poland is the first international customer to add LTAMDS to their air and missile defense architecture.

How many flight tests did RTX's LTAMDS complete before production approval?

LTAMDS completed eight successful flight tests of increasing complexity to prove its capabilities against real-world threats.

How many countries are interested in purchasing RTX's LTAMDS system?

Approximately twelve countries are currently requesting information and receiving pricing and availability estimates for the LTAMDS system.