Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, received a contract from the Office of Naval Research to develop advanced radar software for next-generation naval systems, according to a company statement.

The contract involves Raytheon's Advanced Technology team developing software that enables individual radar components to operate independently. This design allows a single radar system to perform multiple missions simultaneously by treating each component as a separate software-defined aperture.

The technology aims to improve spectrum sharing capabilities with commercial networks, including 5G systems. The software-driven approach provides control over radiation patterns and frequencies in crowded electromagnetic environments.

"The electromagnetic spectrum is more crowded than ever, and our systems have to be smarter about how they operate in it," said Colin Whelan, president of Advanced Technology at Raytheon. "With precise, software-driven control over where and how we radiate, we're taking an important step forward in how we use software‑defined apertures to keep pace with evolving mission demands."

The modular architecture delivers capability enhancements through software updates rather than hardware redesign. This approach reduces costs and development time while allowing performance adaptations over the system's operational life.

Following software development completion, Raytheon will conduct demonstrations to validate independent radar module control and multi-mission operation capabilities. The company expects the technology to transition into operational naval radar systems upon successful validation.

RTX reported 2025 sales exceeding $88 billion and employs more than 180,000 people globally. The company is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.