Raytheon, an RTX business, has been chosen by the German government to supply its SPY-6(V)1 radar system for installation on eight F127-class frigates, under a proposed foreign military sales contract with the U.S. Navy.
The deal would make Germany the first international customer for Raytheon’s SPY-6 radar, the cornerstone of the U.S. Navy’s next-generation air and missile defense capability.
According to the company, the contract includes comprehensive support and services to integrate the radar into the F127’s design, adapting the system to meet the operational requirements of the German Navy.
“Germany’s selection of SPY-6 reaffirms the global confidence in the radar’s advanced capabilities and its critical role in enhancing naval defense,” said Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon. “Integrating the radar on F127 frigates will provide the German Navy with a multi-mission solution that enables faster and more informed decision-making at sea.”
The SPY-6(V)1 radar features four array faces, each equipped with 37 radar modular assemblies, providing uninterrupted 360-degree situational awareness. The system belongs to Raytheon’s SPY-6 family of radars, which are already in service across seven classes of U.S. Navy ships, from destroyers to aircraft carriers. The radar is designed to deliver long-range air and missile defense, including the ability to detect and track advanced threats such as hypersonic weapons.
Raytheon describes the SPY-6 as “the most advanced, most tested maritime radar in the world.” The system is produced at the company’s Radar Development Facility in Andover, Massachusetts — a 30,000-square-foot complex supporting multiple radar programs for both U.S. and allied forces. The site operates on a vertically integrated model, combining advanced automation, fabrication, and around-the-clock testing to meet production demands for naval and missile defense systems.
Germany’s adoption of the SPY-6 radar comes as the country moves forward with one of its most ambitious naval procurement programs in decades — the construction of a new fleet of F127-class frigates. Defence Blog previously reported that Berlin had expanded its initial plan from five vessels, with an option for a sixth, to a total of eight ships.
According to figures published by Politico, the submission to Germany’s parliamentary budget committee scheduled for next June foresees approximately €26 billion ($30.6 billion) for the F127 program. That amount is expected to cover both ship construction and advanced weapons systems.
The F127-class will serve as the German Navy’s new air-defense frigate, replacing older vessels and dramatically enhancing the service’s ability to defend against high-altitude and long-range threats. For the first time, the class will provide Germany with a maritime platform capable of countering ballistic missiles — a role that directly complements NATO’s evolving air and missile defense architecture in Europe.