New Radar Delivery Pushes Arleigh Burke Destroyer Modernization Work Toward Next Phase
Summary
The U.S. Navy has successfully delivered and installed a new AN/SPY-6(V)4 radar at its land-based testing facility at Wallops Island, Virginia, marking a critical milestone in the modernization of Arleigh Burke Flight IIA destroyers. This installation is a precursor to integrating the radar onto the USS Pinckney (DDG-91), the first warship designated to receive the upgrade as part of the broader Destroyer Modernization 2.0 program. The comprehensive upgrade package extends beyond the radar itself, encompassing a new SEWIP Block III electronic warfare suite, Aegis Combat System improvements to Baseline 10 configuration, and additional thermal management systems to support the increased power demands of the new equipment. Land-based testing at Wallops Island is expected to begin later in 2025 and continue through mid-2028, running concurrently with shipboard integration work on USS Pinckney, with the pre-ship testing strategy designed to reduce time spent in the shipyard. The AN/SPY-6(V)4 represents a significant capability leap over the aging AN/SPY-1D radar currently deployed on Flight IIA destroyers, offering advanced ballistic missile defense, volume search, and tracking capabilities across diverse operational environments.
Key Takeaways
- 1. The AN/SPY-6(V)4 radar has been installed at Wallops Island for land-based testing, a standard naval radar development step that will reduce future shipyard time by pre-integrating the system with its dedicated power supply
- 2. The Destroyer Modernization 2.0 program is proceeding in sequential phases, with SEWIP Block III, Aegis Baseline 10, and chiller upgrades being completed first before the SPY-6(V)4 radar installation follows
- 3. The AN/SPY-6(V)4 is a scaled-down version of the AN/SPY-6(V)1 AMDR, featuring 96 Radar Modular Assemblies compared to 148, but still represents a major advancement over the 1980s-era AN/SPY-1D passive radar currently in service
- 4. The modular RMA-based design of the SPY-6 radar family provides significant operational advantages, including individual module replacement, sustained functionality despite partial damage, and flexible targeting capabilities
- 5. At least four Flight IIA Arleigh Burke destroyers — USS Pinckney, USS Chung-Hoon, USS James E. Williams, USS Halsey, and USS Sterett — are slated to receive the full modernization package, with USS Sterett planned to be the first to receive all upgrades simultaneously