The US Department of Defense has awarded Lockheed Martin a $104.6-million contract to produce radars under a foreign military sale with Canada.
The deal involves the company’s proprietary Solid-State SPY Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar (SPY-7) system, a multifunction sensing system designed for naval platforms.
SPY-7 provides up to 3,000 miles (4,828 kilometers) of range to detect and track multiple threats, offering high-resolution capabilities in complex weather conditions.
It operates around the clock in high-stress environments and is used for air defense, ballistic missile defense, surface surveillance, and fire control.
The system’s architecture is also adaptable for land-based platforms, and it supports continuous software upgrades.
Lockheed’s Rotary and Mission Systems segment will carry out work on the contract at its Moorestown, New Jersey, facility, with completion expected by January 2032.
The company will coordinate with the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington DC, which oversees the contracting process.
Potentially for Type 26 Frigates
Although not specified in the Pentagon’s notice, the SPY-7 radar could be deployed in Ottawa’s Canadian Surface Combatant program, which aims to replace the Halifax-class frigates operational since the 1990s.
Lockheed confirmed in 2020 that it would supply radars for the program, positioning the SPY-7 as a critical component of the country’s future warships.
The Type 26 or River-class vessels, set to replace the Halifax fleet, are under development and expected to enter service throughout the 2030s.
The Canadian Ministry of Defence plans to build up to 15 River-class ships, with the first three, the Fraser, Saint-Laurent, and Mackenzie, now under full-rate construction over the next six years.
