The U.S. is taking another positive step toward meeting the growing demand for systems that can help protect against the increasing danger posed by ballistic missiles.

Raytheon has started building the 12th AN/TPY-2 ballistic missile defense radar for the Missile Defense Agency after being awarded a $172.7 million contract, which was previously announced by the Department of Defense on Dec. 17, 2013.

An integral element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), AN/TPY-2 is a mobile X-band radar that helps defend against the more than 6,300 ballistic missiles that, according to MDA estimates, are not controlled by the U.S., NATO, China or Russia.

"Beginning production of a 12th AN/TPY-2 ballistic missile defense radar is so important because this X-band sensor is the backbone of U.S. missile defense around the globe," said Dave Gulla, vice president of Global Integrated Sensors in Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems business.

"The U.S., our warfighters, allies and security partners can count on the AN/TPY-2 because it has performed flawlessly in every test to date against all categories of ballistic missiles."

AN/TPY-2 is a high resolution, mobile, rapidly deployable X-band radar capable of providing long- range acquisition, precision track, and discrimination of short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. The AN/TPY-2 may be deployed globally in either terminal or forward-based mode.

In terminal mode, the AN/TPY-2 serves as the search, detect, track, discrimination and fire-control radar for the THAAD weapon system, enabling the THAAD missile to intercept and destroy threats. In forward-based mode, the AN/TPY-2 cues the BMDS by detecting, discriminating and tracking enemy ballistic missiles in the ascent phase of flight.

+ On Oct. 25, 2012, two AN/TPY-2 radars - one terminal and one forward-based - participated in FTI-01, the MDA's largest and most complex exercise. In a complex raid scenario involving multiple targets, both radars met or exceeded all test objectives.

+ On April 15, 2011, a forward-based AN/TPY-2 extended the battlespace by enabling a Standard Missile-3 to launch on remote and intercept a separating Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile.

+ Raytheon has delivered eight AN/TPY-2s to the Missile Defense Agency. Some of those radars are currently helping defend the U.S. and its allies in the European, Pacific and Central Command area of responsibilities.