RTX’s Raytheon announced Monday it had been selected by The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop advanced maritime sensing and targeting systems.
Under the DARPA contract, Raytheon’s Advanced Technology team will design, build and demonstrate a system that will help defend vulnerable commercial shipping and naval logistics vessels against emerging threats. The system will consist of Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensors, advanced detection software, and robust command and control capabilities that will help enhance situational awareness and threat response. Officials said sensors will provide real-time target tracking data that will enable remote operators to make rapid, informed engagement decisions.
“Through this development, we are advancing critical security technologies for commercial shipping in regions like the Red Sea,” Colin Whelan, president of Advanced Technology at Raytheon, said. “By integrating our proven expertise in command and control, high-performance sensing, and effectors, we will deliver a scalable, cost-effective solution that minimizes risks to both cargo and naval assets.”
Phase one of the program will focus on simulated engagements to evaluate the system and operator workflows; phase two will transition to integrating the system into live operations.
Raytheon said its primary focus was on vulnerable ship protections, and it is also developing technology with the potential to deliver broader capabilities across naval and security operations including automated overwatch for medium and large unmanned surface vehicles and manned combatants operating in multiple theaters.