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Next-generation AESA radar capability demonstrated

NAVAIR News Release

Release Date: 11/22/2002

By Lt. j.g. Kate Deal, USS McCampbell Public Affairs

Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD - The first public demonstration of the integrated APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar was conducted during a debut ceremony at the laboratories of the Raytheon Company in El Segundo, CA, on Thursday, November 20, 2002. The event marked another milestone in bringing increased situational awareness, increased reliability and lower cost to the US Navy's F/A-18 fighter jets. The new radar will make the F/A-18 an even more powerful Precision Strike platform.

"The Navy is another step closer to having this revolutionary capability in the fleet. It is significantly more capable than current fire control radars and we are doing it in less time." said Cmdr. Dave Dunaway, NAVAIR APG-79 program manager. "This one is faster, cheaper and provides much more performance."

"This successful demonstration proves we are well-prepared for the first flight test in June 2003, and another step closer to delivering this amazing radar to the fleet," said Wesley Motooka, vice president of Raytheon's Tactical Aircraft System and Navigation.

Performance and capabilities of current airborne radars are limited by the speed of the mechanically scanned antennas. In an active array radar like the APG-79, the radar beam can be steered at close to the speed of light. This rapid beam scan feature enables superior performance and capabilities. The APG-79 radar's Multi-Function Array is comprised of numerous solid state transmit and receive modules, or T/R modules. Because the array is solid state, mechanical breakdowns are virtually eliminated, leading to dramatic improvements in reliability and lower cost; all achieved with tremendous performance enhancements. The APG-79 is more lethal, more survivable, more reliable and more affordable than its mechanical cousins.

During the lab demonstration, a fully integrated APG-79, was operated in Raytheon's El Segundo facility. The integrated system has successfully transmitted, received, and collected real beam ground mapping radar data of the California Coastline. Visitors also viewed the radar integration facility, including the avionics simulator, target generator and special test equipment.

"Everything in this system - from the array in the front to the processor in the back and the software that operates in the radar - is new. Bringing it together in record time has been quite a challenge," said Tom Kennedy, Raytheon APG-79 program manager.

Following the laboratory development phase, an extensive flight test program at NAVAIR China Lake will begin in mid-2003 with the APG-79 installed in the Super Hornet. The system is planned to be operational in the fleet in 2005.

NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From professional training to carrier launch; from sensor data to precision targeting; from aircraft and weapons development to successful deployment; from real-time communication to aircraft recovery NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter.