Raytheon Co. recently made the first international delivery of its Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) system, to the Australian Navy. The system will be certified by the U.S. Navy for use onboard the Australians’ HMAS Hobart. The sensor-netting system provides sophisticated anti-air defense technology by means of analysis of extensive data from different sensors. The system will expand the battleship’s awareness by sharing sensor data among a network of other Australian and allied CEC-equipped ships and aircraft.
The CEC sensor-networking system developed by Raytheon Co. for the U.S. Navy is now being shared with the Australian Navy. (Courtesy of the U.S. Navy)
The CEC system works by networking a variety of sensor data in real time, bringing together radar data from geographically dispersed ships, aircraft, and ground-based systems. The resulting integrated view provided by the networked data enables longer-range, layered engagements and responses. The latest version of the CEC system is the result of advanced commercial and military electronic technologies, as well as Raytheon’s extensive experience as the U.S. Navy’s CEC Design Agent.
For the U.S. forces, CEC systems are deployed on ships and land-based test sites, E-2C/D aircraft, and U.S. Marine Corps network systems to provide this advanced integration of sensor data. For the Australian Navy, as U.S. Navy Captain Jonathan Garcia, CEC major program manager, Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems 6.0, notes: “The addition of CEC is a major building block for Australia in their defense against anti-air warfare threats in the Pacific Region. This delivery to Australia marks a significant first—expanding the CEC network globally and increasing the U.S. Navy interoperability with a valued, strategic ally.”
