Raytheon’s APG-79 AESA Radars

The AN/APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar began life as a replacement. Initial F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet production batches installed Raytheon’s all-weather, multimode AN/APG-73, but the APG-79 has intrinsic technical features that offered revolutionary increases in capability, reliability, image resolution, and range.
Unlike the APG-73 that equipped the first Super Hornets, the APG-79’s AESA array is composed of numerous solid-state transmit and receive modules that are fixed in place, eliminating a common cause of breakdowns. To move their beams, they rely on electronic changes in each module’s transmissions, creating useful interference patterns in order to aim, focus and shape their output. Other system components include an advanced receiver/exciter, ruggedized commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) processor, and power supplies. With its open systems architecture and compact COTS parts, it changes what both aircrews and maintenance staff can do with a fighter radar – and does so in a smaller, lighter package.
AN/APG-79 & The AESA Advantage
The APG-79 Program
The APG-79’s AESA Advantage
AESA Advantages
AESA: The Tactical Advantage
APG-79: The Maintenance Advantage
A Wider Market? Spinoffs and Spin-back
Contracts & Key Events
FY 2014 – 2021
FY 2011 – FY 2013
FY 2009 – FY 2010
FY 2007 – FY 2008
FY 2005 – FY 2006
FY 2001 – FY 2004
Additional Readings
Related Super Hornet Contracts
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