F/A-18 Radar Upgrade

Abstract

F/A-18 Radio Detection and Ranging (RADAR) Upgrade: The F/A-18 RADAR Upgrade, Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) development program, which began in FY 1999, is the last of three pre-planned upgrades to the F/A-18 Type/Model/Series RADAR. The AESA system corrects operational test deficiencies noted in the AN/APG-73. It provides multi-target tracking, Synthetic Aperture RADAR (SAR) imagery, SAR Target Location Error (TLE), and improved spotlight map resolution. In addition, it provides greater lethality than previous F/A-18 RADARs by allowing full tactical support of existing and planned air-to-air (A/A) and air-to-ground (A/G) weapons and it significantly increases A/A and A/G detection and tracking ranges. The AESA system provides greater survivability through self-protection and standoff jamming capabilities, while its greater range allows for reduced detection by enemy RADAR. This budget continues spiral capability development of AESA with increased efforts to address Phase II Operational Requirements Document requirements such as Counter-Electronic Attack 1 (CEA 1) against multiple Radio Frequency Emitters, AESA Multi-Jammer Electronic Protection, Precision TLE Improvement, Monopulse and 5th/6th Channel development and Air Combat Maneuvering/Short Range Search and Track development and includes upgrades to RADAR Instrumentation, test and evaluation assets and threat assets, and upgraded modeling and simulation of both clean and Electronic Attack threat environments. Budget also supports development and testing of design modifications to address obsolescence issues with APG-65, APG-73 and APG-79 RADAR systems.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2016
Source ID
2065_0204136N_7_1319_PB_2016

Tags

Readers

  • Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.
  • Radar Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems

Related Documents