August 8, 2018 | International, C4ISR
Raytheon builds massive radar development facility complete with robotic helpers
By: Jen Judson ANDOVER, Mass. — Raytheon has built a new massive radar development facility — complete with robotic helpers — to assemble and test its newest radars, but the facility's design will take the company's radar work well into the future. Meeting visitors at the door of the $72 million addition to Raytheon's Andover, Massachusetts, radar production facility is a small square robot flashing purple light, offering a verbal welcome before scooting off to its docking station across the expansive room. The Automated Guided Vehicle whisks past an enormous, yellow robotic arm that takes on a life of its own as it inspects the side of an array with a laser, chooses a tool and a part, and gets to work assembling a component. Raytheon will build its AN/SPY-6 radars under contract with the U.S. Navy in the new facility. The company brought its first array under contract there in June, only 18 months after the company decided to begin the project to build the new 30,000-square-foot center. The development facility was partly driven by Raytheon's need to build its AN/SPY-6 missile defense radars. It needed a larger facility and near-field ranges to test and calibrate the large arrays. Full Article: https://www.defensenews.com/land/2018/08/07/raytheon-builds-massive-radar-development-facility-complete-with-robotic-helpers/