India Investigating F/A-18 Super Hornet AESA Radars, AH-64D Apaches

F/A-18E Super Hornet In the context of its deepening relationship with the USA, India recently added US fighters like the F-16 to the platforms under consideration in its multi-billion lightweight fighter competition. It would appear that one can also add the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet to the list of aircraft under serious consideration by India – and the AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter as well. A/N APG-79 AESA Radar ENS reports that a November 21-22 meeting at the Pentagon will convey America’s decision re: whether to offer the Super Hornet’s top-secret AN/APG-79 AESA (active electronically scanned array) radar. If cleared, India will be the first country to be offered this particular radar, though it would not be the first to be offered comparable AESA radars by the USA. The UAE already flies F-16 Block 60 aircraft equipped with the AN/APG-80 AESA radar, and country participants in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program will be offered the even more advanced AN/APG-81 AESA radar as part of that aircraft’s standard equipment. The AN/APG-79 AESA radar, with its dual mode air-air and air-ground capabilities, is the only major sub-system yet to be cleared by for sale to India as part of the offer […]