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 EF/EA-18G 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 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. The AN/APG-73 will be upgraded to AN/APG-79. This combat-proven AESA radar system substantially increases the power of the F/A-18E/F EA-18G from the front-end array to the back-end processor and operational software. This budget continues spiral capability development of AESA with increased efforts to address Phase II Operational Requirements Document requirements such as Counter-Electronic Attack (CEA) 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. This budget supports AN/APG-79 integration into the Advanced EW suite as a contributing wideband sensor. It also includes upgrades to RADAR Instrumentation, test and evaluation assets, threat assets, and upgraded modeling and simulation of both clean and Electronic Attack threat environments. This budget includes the overarching Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) software improvements, which includes Aided Target Recognition (AiTR), and Strike Accelerator/Kill Chain capabilities. This budget request supports development and testing of design modifications to address obsolescence issues with APG-65, APG-73 and APG-79 RADAR systems. USMC upgrades to the platform are being developed to include capability expansion of AESA Radar for F/A-18 A-D.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2024
- Source ID
- 2065_0204136N_7_1319_PB_2024
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