Raytheon executives have revealed to Naval News that components manufactured by Japanese companies will be integrated into the SPY-6 radar system selected for the German Navy’s next-generation F127 frigates.
The AN/SPY-6, developed and produced by Raytheon, is the U.S. Navy’s latest shipborne air-defense radar. It is built by combining cube-shaped Radar Modular Assemblies (RMAs), each measuring 60 cm per side, enabling radar arrays of various sizes to be assembled much like Lego blocks. Depending on the number of RMAs, the SPY-6 family is categorized into SPY-6(V)1 (37 RMAs), SPY-6(V)2/(V)3 (9 RMAs), and SPY-6(V)4 (24 RMAs). The U.S. Navy plans to equip more than 60 vessels—including Arleigh Burke–class destroyers (Flight IIA and Flight III variants), aircraft carriers, and amphibious ships—with these systems in the coming years.
In October 2025, SPY-6 secured its first international export contract. The system was selected for the German Navy’s new F127-class frigates, of which eight hulls are planned. Barbara Borgonovi, President of Naval Power at Raytheon, told Naval News there are five key reasons why SPY-6 was chosen.
“The first one, it is the US program of record, and allows for interoperability, interchangeability with the U.S. Second, that means it’s a low risk approach. Yes, it needs to be adaptive for Germany specific frigate, but it’s a very low risk activity to do that and perceive. And third is in production for the [U.S.] Navy. So it’s not just a program of record for the U.S. Navy, it is in production. Two ships have already been commissioned and we are ahead of schedule on production and deliveries. And fourth, this is a maritime radar, so it’s not a land based radar to go into the maritime environment. This radar has been designed for performance at sea. We’ve done rigorous testing including at sea testing and multiple locations. And lastly, training is also incredibly important. So we don’t just deliver a radar, but we ensure that our customers and sailors have the ability to adequately use our capability. And that includes training infrastructure for SPY-6”
A SPY-6 radar array being manufactured at Raytheon Missiles & Defense’s radar development facility in Andover, Massachusetts. SPY-6 is the U.S. Navy family of radars that will perform integrated air and missile defense on seven classes of ships. Raytheon image.
Japanese Firms Join SPY-6 Component Production
What is particularly noteworthy about SPY-6 is the participation of Japanese companies in its component manufacturing. In 2024, Mitsubishi Electric (MELCO), a major Japanese defense contractor, and Sampa Kogyo concluded supply agreements with Raytheon to produce certain components of the SPY-6 system. Both companies have extensive experience in radar-related products and are beginning their collaboration with Raytheon by manufacturing power-supply equipment and related subsystems, with plans to gradually expand the scope of their work. According to Raytheon, component production by MELCO and Sampa Kogyo will begin in 2026.
Until now, it had only been disclosed that these Japan-made components would be integrated into SPY-6 radars destined for installation on U.S. Navy vessels. However, Jennifer Gauthier, Vice President of Naval System & Sustainment at Raytheon, told Naval News that these components will also be incorporated into the SPY-6 systems selected for Germany’s F127-class frigates:
“What makes their more recent aspects around the contracting more exciting is that Sampa and MELCO will be producing components for SPY-6 in the United States, as well as the global fleet. So Germany is the first case. And as the global SPY-6 family expands over time, that’s the vision, both of those companies will be producers, for those system globally”
Until now, Japanese defense companies have primarily manufactured and supplied equipment and components exclusively for the Japan Self-Defense Forces. As a result, the sector has long been viewed as low-margin and not a growth industry. However, the SPY-6 component production launched through this collaboration with Raytheon represents the first genuine opportunity for Japanese firms to manufacture parts for a global customer base. Consequently, this initiative is expected to bring significant benefits across multiple areas, including the expansion of manufacturing facilities and the acquisition of advanced production know-how.
AloJapan.com