Raytheon Flies AESA Retrofit Radar In F-16

[S_O_C_O_M]

Raytheon Flies AESA Retrofit Radar In F-16​

Dec 2, 2010
By Graham Warwick

An international customer could order the first active, electronically scanned array (AESA) radar upgrade for the Lockheed Martin F-16 in 2011, moving ahead of the still-undecided U.S. Air Force, Raytheon says.

The company has completed flight trials of its Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar (RACR) in a U.S. Air Force F-16D Block 50 at Edwards AFB, Calif. The six flights were conducted in July, but have just been announced.

Northrop Grumman flew its competing Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) on an F-16 at Edwards in January, in support of a U.S. Air Force AESA feasibility study.

The July flights were the first time RACR had flown in any platform, says Ken Murphy, Raytheon business development manager. Northrop’s SABR previously had flown on the company’s Sabreliner testbed.

Murphy says the RACR went from concept to flight on the F-16 in 24 months because it is 90% common with the APG-79 AESA on the F/A-18E/F and the APG-82 being installed on the F-15E.

The Edwards flights demonstrated air-to-air and air-to-ground modes including high-resolution synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) imaging with ground moving-target indication overlay, he says. Air combat modes were demonstrated and the radar integrated with the F-16’s joint helmet-mounted cuing system.

Efforts to sell AESA upgrades to F-16 operators are picking up pace. “I think next year will be the turning point when international customers move ahead of the U.S. Air Force,” Murphy says.

USAF is looking at extending the service life of its F-16s because of delays to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, but has yet to decide whether to fund an avionics upgrade, he says.

Meanwhile, the companies have provided the U.S. government with pricing data requested by two countries that operate large F-16 fleets. “A couple of countries are seeking budgets [for upgrades],” Murphy says.

RACR deliveries could begin 36 months after contract award, paced by the development of radar modes required by the customer, Murphy says, adding that node development and testing would fit within the three-year timescale of the Common Configuration Implementation Program upgrade for the F-16C/D.

Cost of the RACR retrofit is comparable to that of upgrading the F-16C/D’s Northrop APG-68 mechanically scanned radar to the SAR-capable (V)9 standard, but the AESA offers a tenfold increase in reliability, Murphy says.

Raytheon Flies AESA Retrofit Radar In F-16 | AVIATION WEEK

 

[IceCold]

Would PAF be interested in retrofitting its F-16s with this radar?

 

[Qasibr]

PAF just bought the SAR capable V9 for their 18 F-16s, unless I'm mistaken. However, it is likely to still be an option for the vast majority of our F-16 fleet(the PAF seems to be aiming for a 100+ F-16 fleet, 6 squadrons would be 108 aircraft - consisting of something like 70+ OCU upgrades and 36 new).

Also remember that this says that the price is "comparable", that does not mean this costs *as much* as the V9. So us getting this depends on what our financial condition is at that time, and whether we get sanctioned after the US has no need for us anymore(like the 90's and the 60's&70's).

 

[khurasaan1]

ummm....sounds interesting...

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Well with 36 J10B armed with AESA we will already have AESA Radars available , for F16 yes it would be great optional thing in future ...

But with 8 awacs , 4 of those are AESA enabled we will have ability to share the information with planes from command centre.

But immeditately what we needs is extra engines for F16 parts
and supply of parts

I really say we should push for a assembly facility in Pakistan for F16 since we operated the planes for 20 years -

 

[Chogy]

^^ agreed, the AESA would be a fantastic upgrade, but with a fixed budget, you need adequate critical spares before considering AESA.

The good news is that it appears to be a plug & play upgrade and can be done at a later date, with ease.

 

[Safriz]

Well with 36 J10B armed with AESA we will already have AESA Radars available , for F16 yes it would be great optional thing in future ...

But with 8 awacs , 4 of those are AESA enabled we will have ability to share the information with planes from command centre.

But immeditately what we needs is extra engines for F16 parts
and supply of parts

I really say we should push for a assembly facility in Pakistan for F16 since we operated the planes for 20 years -

In many decades of operating F-16s,pakistan has run into parts shortage many times..So stockpiling spares would be a good idea.

 

[somebozo]

PAF chief has said that in near future F15-52 will not be the latest aircraft in PAF inventory so such an upgrade appears waste of time and money!

 

[REHAN NIAZI FALCON]

optio is good ...... but would we be offered ??

 

[araz]

PAF just bought the SAR capable V9 for their 18 F-16s, unless I'm mistaken. However, it is likely to still be an option for the vast majority of our F-16 fleet(the PAF seems to be aiming for a 100+ F-16 fleet, 6 squadrons would be 108 aircraft - consisting of something like 70+ OCU upgrades and 36 new).

Also remember that this says that the price is "comparable", that does not mean this costs *as much* as the V9. So us getting this depends on what our financial condition is at that time, and whether we get sanctioned after the US has no need for us anymore(like the 90's and the 60's&70's).

PAF has already brought upgrade kits for 36 F16s including APG68V9 radars. What do you think will they do with those? I personally do not see older F16s being upgraded with AESA. You may see Bl52s in the upgrade phase (2020 onwards) having an AESA, but the upgrades are laready decided and unless USA wants to force them on you for free it is unlikely to happen.
Araz