The US Navy (USN) has commenced market research to inform the planned acquisition of a Future X-Band Radar (FXR) for its major surface combatants, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers (CVNs), and amphibious ships.
The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) issued a Request for Information (RFI) on 31 January, asking industry to provide details of technologies, concepts, and systems relevant to FXR, and an indication of their technical maturity. These inputs are intended to increase NAVSEA's understanding of industry interest and capability for FXR development and initial production, and inform acquisition decisions.
The FXR is intended to assume the functional capabilities of the mechanically scanning AN/SPQ-9B X-band radar, including horizon search and track, surface search and track, and periscope detection and discrimination. It will also provide missile communications in a wide diversity of maritime environments and conditions.
According to NAVSEA, the FXR system is required to meet mission performance, and size, weight, and power/cooling requirements of the following USN ship classes: DDG-51 Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers with the Aegis Baseline 10 combat system; DDG-51 Flight II and DDG-51 Flight IIA destroyers with Aegis Baseline 9; CVN 78 Ford-class carriers with the Ship Self Defense System (SSDS) Block 12 combat system; CVN 68 Nimitz-class carriers with SSDS Block 12; CG 47 Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers with Aegis Baseline 9; and Landing Platform/Dock (LPD 29+) hulls with SSDS Block 12. The intention is that a common FXR system architecture will be applied across all the platforms identified to the greatest extent possible.
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