Indra, Lockheed Martin Seek Customers for Jointly Developed Naval AESA Radar

Indra and Lockheed Martin recently signed an agreement that extends their relationship in the development of an S-band active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for the Spanish Navy’s F-110 program to the commercialization of this radar worldwide.

The F-110 frigate is the Spanish Navy’s future multi-mission surface vessel, due to see operations in the next decade. With production expected to begin in 2018, the first F-110 frigate would be commissioned in 2023 equipped with the first Aegis Weapon System integrating the new solid state S-band radar.

Lockheed Martin and Indra have been collaborating since 2009 to develop a state-of-the-art S-band solid state radar for Spain’s F-110 Frigate Program, and their cooperation in S-band naval radars dates to 1997 when Indra began supplying components for the SPY-1D radar. Over those 20 years, Indra has delivered components to every Aegis Combat system for the US Navy and all five international Aegis partner navies.

Under this new radar partnership, nearly a decade of joint funding and technical collaboration has been invested to combine and mature the best of Lockheed Martin and Indra S-band solid state radar technologies.

“The industrial cooperation between Lockheed Martin and Indra has always been strong, but for F-110 it will go to the next level,” said F-110 Program Manager Capt. Manuel Martínez Ruiz. “The joint development of a new solid state S-band radar is a cornerstone of the F-110 Program and a strategic element of our defense industrial plan in Spain.”

The Spanish Navy operates five Aegis-equipped Álvaro de Bazán-class (F-100) frigates equipped with the Lockheed Martin-developed Aegis Combat System and SPY-1 radar. F-110 will aim to evolve the strong partnerships between U.S. and Spanish industry established during the development and fielding of the first four ships of the F-100 program and expanded for F-105.