Raytheon is developing new radar software that could allow future U.S. Navy warships to run several missions through a single radar system at once. The effort comes under a new contract from the Office of Naval Research and focuses on software-defined radar technology built for increasingly crowded electromagnetic environments.

The project aims to help naval radars adapt faster during operations while sharing spectrum more efficiently with commercial networks, including 5G systems.

Smarter radar control

Raytheon’s Advanced Technology division plans to redesign how radar modules operate inside a larger system. Instead of functioning as a tightly linked unit, each radar building block would work independently through software-based controls.

That setup would allow operators to assign different tasks to different radar sections simultaneously. A single radar could track threats, support targeting, and manage surveillance functions at the same time.

The company said the approach relies on software-defined apertures, where software controls how each radar segment transmits and receives signals. Engineers believe that flexibility could improve mission performance without requiring major hardware changes.

Designed for crowded spectrum

Modern military systems now compete with commercial communications networks for access to usable frequencies. That challenge has intensified as 5G infrastructure expands across the United States and allied regions.

Raytheon said its software aims to improve how naval radars operate inside those congested bands. The system would direct signals more precisely and reduce unnecessary interference with nearby networks.

“The electromagnetic spectrum is more crowded than ever,” said Colin Whelan, president of Advanced Technology at Raytheon.

He added that software-driven control over radar emissions marks “an important step forward” for adapting to changing mission demands.

Defense analysts have increasingly warned that future naval operations will depend heavily on efficient spectrum management. Modern warships rely on multiple connected systems, including communications, missile defense, and electronic warfare platforms, all competing for bandwidth during combat operations.

The company believes software-defined control can give the Navy faster upgrade cycles compared with traditional radar modernization programs. Instead of redesigning physical hardware, engineers could add new functions through software updates.

Software over hardware

Raytheon described the architecture as modular and scalable. Engineers can update individual radar capabilities without replacing entire systems. That could reduce integration risks and lower long-term sustainment costs for the Navy.

The company also expects the design to support future mission expansion. Naval operators increasingly require systems that can handle air defense, tracking, electronic warfare, and communications support simultaneously.

Once software development finishes, Raytheon plans to conduct demonstrations showing independent control of radar modules. Those tests will also examine multi-mission performance and spectrum-sharing capabilities.

If the demonstrations succeed, the company expects the technology to transition into operational naval radar platforms. The contract continues Raytheon’s broader investment in software-defined aperture technology, an area defense companies increasingly view as critical for next-generation sensing systems. U.S. military planners have pushed for more adaptable radar architectures as electronic warfare threats and spectrum congestion continue to grow.