Raytheon, a business unit of RTX (NYSE: RTX), has been awarded a contract from the Office of Naval Research to develop advanced target-detection capabilities for naval radar systems, according to a company press release.

Raytheon's Advanced Technology team will develop and evaluate signal and data-processing algorithms and integrate software upgrades intended to extend detection range, increase sensitivity, and improve radar-system efficiency. The enhancements are planned to undergo laboratory and field testing before transitioning into Raytheon's SPY-6 family of radars and other future naval radar platforms.

Colin Whelan, president of Advanced Technology at Raytheon, said the upgrades "will enable naval operators to detect smaller objects at greater distances and classify targets more quickly, providing the fleet with faster, more informed decision-making."

The program builds on prior ONR-funded initiatives, including ASPIRE and STORM, which Raytheon said established foundational hardware and software advancements for next-generation radar capability.

Work will be carried out at Raytheon facilities in Portsmouth, R.I., and Andover, Massachusetts, through 2031. The contract value was not disclosed.