Raytheon’s Advanced Technology division is currently defining and developing the torpedoes, radars, missiles, and satellites that will be integral to the Defense Department’s future arsenal. This organization is responsible for transforming next-generation technologies into tangible warfighting capabilities, exemplified by the conception, design, and maturation of the Air Force’s hypersonic air-breathing weapon, HACM.
Colin Whelan, president of Raytheon’s Advanced Technology (AT) division, provided a broad overview of the team. In upcoming stories, AT will elaborate on its flexible foundational building blocks for developing new radar and weapon systems—such as software-defined apertures and composable weapons—and explain the critical role of modeling and simulation in demonstrating these capabilities through the Rapid Campaign Analysis Demonstration Environment (RCADE), which evaluates capabilities at the theater level.
RTX is committed to transforming innovative research into advanced technologies that will define the future of aerospace and defense. At Advanced Technology, we tackle our customers’ challenges from both theater- and mission-level perspectives. With 25 years of experience at the company, I strive to ensure that our warfighters maintain a competitive edge on the battlefield. The output of our ‘AT team’ encompasses everything from individual component development to full-scale solutions, spanning early ideation to production readiness and covering areas from seabed to space.
AT is focused on understanding the evolving threat landscape, guiding our technology development towards what warfighters will need in future conflicts, instead of only responding to current requirements.
Our team operates in close collaboration with the entire RTX enterprise, which includes Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney, while also partnering with small businesses and academia to deliver the most innovative and capable solutions. The AT team has played a key role in defining, architecting, and advancing several of Raytheon’s well-known programs, including the Navy’s SPY-6 radar for carriers and destroyers, the Army’s Air and Missile Defense LTAMDS radar complementing the Patriot system, the Air Force’s HACM, and the Navy’s latest electronic warfare system, the Next Generation Jammer for the EA-18 GROWLER.
Discussing our work has historically been challenging, especially as global conditions have shifted significantly. However, the AT team has long been exploring strategies to meet the growing need for faster system deployment, increased capabilities, and reduced costs. Many of our systems are already being delivered today.
We utilize our expertise in systems integration and mission-level solutions to help shape future product roadmaps. Our flexible foundational building block architecture allows our solutions to quickly incorporate customizable features via software. In sensor system development, AT is dedicated to leveraging the full capabilities of the RF spectrum, employing software-defined aperture architecture instead of traditional radar approaches. This innovation creates flexible hardware solutions that can support multiple missions through customizable ‘software apps,’ akin to those on smartphones. Current and future programs are receiving these enhancements now.
From a weapon development standpoint, reutilization continues to act as a catalyst for increased speed. Over the past decade, we’ve developed common, scalable, Lego-like hardware and software building blocks that streamline processes and accelerate our manufacturing capabilities. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of Rayton’s Advanced Technology division, and I regularly witness the positive impact of our work on the safety of our nation and allies. Our agile team is dedicated to the rapid development of next-generation defense technologies, and I look forward to sharing more about our progress soon.
