RTX's Raytheon to equip U.S. Air Force autonomous fighter jet with PhantomStrike® radar

Rhea-AI Summary

Raytheon (NYSE: RTX) announced on Dec. 19, 2025 that it received a U.S. Air Force contract to equip the autonomous X-62A Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft (VISTA) with a PhantomStrike radar.

PhantomStrike is described as a compact, air-cooled fire-control radar using GaN that is smaller, lighter and lower-power than modern AESA radars, with digital beam forming, multimode air and ground targeting, and a company claim of delivering similar capability at nearly half the cost of typical fire-control radars.

Positive

• Contract awarded to equip X-62A VISTA on Dec 19, 2025
• PhantomStrike is compact, air-cooled, and GaN-based
• Company claims nearly 50% lower cost versus typical fire-control radars

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction – RTX

+2.09%

+2.09% Session close to close

In the Dec 19 session, RTX gained 2.09%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement highlights Raytheon’s PhantomStrike radar being selected for the autonomous X-62A ...

Analysis

This announcement highlights Raytheon’s PhantomStrike radar being selected for the autonomous X-62A VISTA test aircraft, underscoring RTX’s role in advanced radar and autonomy-related defense technologies. Recent history shows a series of sizable contracts, such as the $1.6 billion F135 sustainment award and a $1.25 billion Tamir missile contract, plus a strategic AWS collaboration. Investors may watch for additional awards leveraging PhantomStrike’s GaN-based, air-cooled AESA design and how these programs contribute to RTX’s broader defense portfolio.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Dec 09 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Dec 09	EW prototype review	Positive	+0.2%	Raytheon completed major review of ADVEW prototype for U.S. Navy.
Dec 09	Engine R&D update	Positive	+0.2%	Pratt & Whitney developing new small engines for munitions and CCA.
Dec 04	Cloud collaboration	Positive	+1.7%	Raytheon announced AWS collaboration for satellite and space missions.
Dec 02	F135 sustainment deal	Positive	+0.5%	Pratt & Whitney awarded F135 sustainment contract for F-35 engines.
Nov 21	Tamir missile contract	Positive	-1.8%	Raytheon-Rafael JV won $1.25B Tamir missile production contract.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Recent RTX/Raytheon news on defense contracts and collaborations generally saw modest positive price reactions, with one negative outlier despite positive contract details.

Recent Company History

Over the past month, RTX units Raytheon and Pratt & Whitney reported several U.S. defense contracts and technology milestones, including an F135 sustainment award of $1.6 billion and a $1.25 billion Tamir missile contract. A strategic cloud collaboration with AWS for space customers also drew a stronger +1.7% reaction. Most of these positive operational updates led to small gains, while the Tamir contract saw a -1.77% move, indicating occasional divergence between favorable news and short-term price action. Today’s PhantomStrike radar contract continues this theme of steady defense program wins.

Key Terms

digital beam forming, machine learning

2 terms

digital beam forming technical

"With digital beam forming and steering, multimode functionality"

Digital beam forming is a method that uses many small antenna elements and software to shape and steer radio signals like an adjustable spotlight rather than a single fixed antenna. For investors, it matters because it can dramatically improve wireless speed, range, and capacity while reducing interference and hardware size, which can lower costs, enable new services, and create competitive advantages for companies in telecom, defense, and satellite markets.

machine learning technical

"a hybrid used as a test bed integrated with machine learning and specialized software."

Machine learning is a set of computer programs that learn patterns from large amounts of data and improve their predictions or decisions over time, like a recipe that gets better each time it’s adjusted based on taste tests. For investors it matters because these systems can speed up analysis, spot trends or risks humans might miss, automate routine work, and potentially create competitive advantages or cost savings that affect a company’s performance.

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PhantomStrike will provide VISTA aircraft with superior battlespace situational awareness

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Dec. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, announced today that it has received a contract from the U.S. Air Force to equip the autonomous X-62A Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft (VISTA) with a PhantomStrike® radar. VISTA is a modified F-16D Block 30 test aircraft upgraded with Block 40 avionics, a hybrid used as a test bed integrated with machine learning and specialized software.

PhantomStrike is a first-of-its-kind, air-cooled and compact fire-control radar that is smaller, lighter and requires less power than modern AESA radars. It's designed for a wide range of platforms, including uncrewed aerial vehicles, light-attack aircraft, and rotary-wing aircraft.

"Autonomous aircraft are poised to play a key role in helping the U.S. maintain air superiority, and Raytheon's PhantomStrike radar is uniquely designed to help them do it," said Dan Theisen, president of Advanced Products & Solutions at Raytheon. "This radar is revolutionary in its use of GaN, completely air-cooled technology, and innovation in how we manufacture it - at a lower cost than other modern-day radars."

With digital beam forming and steering, multimode functionality and interleaved ground and air targeting, PhantomStrike delivers superior radar capability at nearly half the cost of typical fire control radars.

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-raytheon-to-equip-us-air-force-autonomous-fighter-jet-with-phantomstrike-radar-302646767.html

SOURCE RTX

FAQ

What did Raytheon announce about RTX on Dec 19, 2025?

Raytheon announced a U.S. Air Force contract to outfit the autonomous X-62A VISTA with a PhantomStrike radar.

What is the X-62A VISTA and which aircraft is it based on?

The X-62A VISTA is an autonomous test aircraft based on a modified F-16D Block 30 with Block 40 avionics.

What are the key features of PhantomStrike radar mentioned for RTX (NYSE: RTX)?

PhantomStrike is described as compact, air-cooled, GaN-based with digital beam forming and multimode air and ground targeting.

How does PhantomStrike's cost compare to other fire-control radars?

The company says PhantomStrike delivers similar capability at nearly half the cost of typical fire-control radars.

Which platforms is PhantomStrike designed to support for RTX?

PhantomStrike is designed for uncrewed aerial vehicles, light-attack aircraft, and rotary-wing aircraft.