The U.S. Air Force and Raytheon have completed the preliminary design review (PDR) contract of the Space Fence program. Space Fence is capable of detecting more and much smaller objects in low earth orbit to provide greater accuracy and timeliness to meet warfighter space situational awareness requirements.

"Space debris threatens systems we depend on every day, including satellites that power navigation, weather and critical infrastructures," said David Gulla, vice president of Global Integrated Sensors in Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) business.

"By building a working Space Fence prototype and employing innovative approaches Raytheon brought to the table, we demonstrated to the U.S. Air Force a cost-effective system that can track a multitude of small objects in space."

Raytheon leads the industry in delivering innovative, affordable and reliable radar solutions, leveraging a 70-year radar heritage to provide global customers a decisive intelligence edge in all domains.

Raytheon produces the world's broadest range of radar solutions, and continually works to advance radar technologies to deliver enhanced capabilities for warfighters around the world.

During this PDR program, the Air Force evaluated cost, schedule, the maturity of technology and design in support of transitioning the Space Fence system into production.

Space Fence is a multiphase acquisition program, leading to the delivery of up to two, globally positioned, S-band radars operating in the U.S. Space Surveillance Network.

This is the second contract Raytheon has completed as part of the Space Fence acquisition program.

"Throughout the program, Raytheon has worked closely with the Air Force to maximize functionality while minimizing and mitigating risk upfront," added Scott Spence, Raytheon's Space Fence program director.

"This active collaboration ensures that the capability delivered will meet the Air Force requirements for enhanced situational awareness in space at an affordable cost."