Enable breadcrumbs token at /includes/pageheader.html.twig

Advanced Radar System Coming to the Military

Military officials say they will begin to transition to a new method of effectively identifying and locating air-breathing vehicles.

Col. Tyler Oxley, chief information officer/G6, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, addresses the audience at TechNet Pacific Northwest 2025 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington. Credit: Justin Manuel

U.S. Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC) personnel announced the new Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) will soon replace the traditional Patriot sensor.

The novel tool features a groundbreaking capability that will give AAMDC officials the ability to see the sky in a 360-degree view, according to Col. Tyler Oxley, chief information officer/G6, 94th AAMDC. This gives personnel a new, more effective way to identify and locate any air-breathing vehicles, including missiles, cruise missiles and drones.

“The new LTAMDS radar set, it’s 360 degrees, and it’s not just a single direction,” Oxley said during an interview at TechNet Pacific Northwest 2025 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington. “Right now, you orient [the Patriot sensor] in one direction, and that’s what it’s looking at. The LTAMDS radar set is looking all around.”

“If you’ve got a cruise missile coming in that wants to maneuver into target, then it’s not going to get behind you,” Oxley added. “You’re going to be able to see it, and you’re going to be able to adjust.”

The LTAMDS tool was created by Raytheon and will give officials a better way to prevent adversaries from launching missile strikes or spying on U.S. territories via drones. Leaders expect that this change and upgrade will lead to more safety and security.

The switch will take place across the military later this year and mark the end of the long-lasting Patriot radar system, which has been used by officials since the 1980s, according to Oxley.