Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a Raytheon Technologies business, has completed the systems requirements review – prototype (SRR-P) for the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI), marking an important milestone in the US hypersonic missile defence program.
The milestone comes after the US Missile Defence Agency awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Missiles and Defense to continue developing prototypes of a GPI.
GPI is designed to intercept hypersonic weapons in the glide phase of flight, providing the US with a regional layer of defence against hypersonic missile threats.
The concept employs a low-risk solution that uses standard missile technology already deployed on Aegis ships. However, the system also incorporates critical technologies needed in the hypersonic environment, according to Tay Fitzgerald , president of Strategic Missile Defense at Raytheon Missiles & Defense.
“We have a firm understanding of the requirements, and we’re ready to continue GPI development. This is a major step toward delivering this capability to the warfighter,” Fitzgerald noted.
The company also emphasized that with SRR-P complete, it moves on to preliminary design.
To remind, two months ago, Raytheon delivered SPY-6 radar arrays to the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), the first aircraft carrier to receive the radar.
According to the company, the radar is to provide 360-degree coverage for the ship. In addition to the multi-mission capabilities across the SPY-6 family , SPY-6(V)3 has features to meet the needs of an aircraft carrier, including weather mapping and air traffic control functionality.