Raytheon Delivers First GaN-Equipped AN/TPY-2 Radar to U.S. Missile Defense Agency
Raytheon, an RTX business, has delivered the first AN/TPY-2 radar featuring a complete gallium nitride (GaN) array to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. The delivery was announced on May 19, 2025, from Raytheon’s facility in Andover, Massachusetts. This marks the 13th AN/TPY-2 radar constructed for the agency, but it is the first to use GaN. The AN/TPY-2 serves as a long-range X-band radar designed to defend the U.S. homeland and its allies by detecting and tracking ballistic missiles throughout various flight phases.
GaN is a semiconductor material capable of handling higher power and heat than older gallium arsenide (GaAs) devices. Radar equipped with GaN electronics can detect objects at twice the distance and is much more sensitive than the original model. Raytheon states that the GaN array “enhances the radar’s sensitivity, which in turn extends its range, increases surveillance capabilities, and supports defense against hypersonic threats.” This advancement means that the radar has a significantly greater range and clearer resolution than earlier models, enabling it to detect smaller targets and subtle warheads that previous versions may have overlooked.
The AN/TPY-2 is the primary radar for the Army’s THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system, although it can also assist other defense systems. It can function in a forward mode to detect missiles right after launch and in a terminal mode to guide THAAD interceptors towards descending warheads. In terminal mode, it directs THAAD missiles at incoming threats. Operating in the high-frequency X-band provides the radar with fine detail, allowing it to distinguish a real warhead from clutter, such as debris. Raytheon has also integrated new CX6 computer software to enhance target discrimination and resist electronic jamming.
Hypersonic missiles traveling above Mach 5 and capable of maneuvering in flight pose an increasing threat. The GaN-upgraded AN/TPY-2 counters this by identifying targets earlier. It can detect a warhead the moment a missile’s booster separates, enabling defenses to launch interceptors “before the missile starts maneuvering.” The additional range and precision offered by GaN will reinforce the U.S. layered missile defense system. Raytheon has referred to this as “the most advanced version of AN/TPY-2” produced to date. Notably, Saudi Arabia was the first to receive a GaN AN/TPY-2 (in late 2024 under a foreign sale), but this is the first for U.S. forces. The new radar will integrate into the Army’s existing THAAD batteries, as it is assigned to the eighth THAAD unit, thereby strengthening America’s missile defenses.