Raytheon signed a contract with BAE Systems to provide South Korea integrated AESA radar, electronic warfare, mission computing technologies and weapon systems integration.
As a key subcontractor to BAE Systems, the company will provide a fully integrated avionics suite that includes the Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar (RACR), ALR-69A all-digital radar warning receiver, advanced mission computing technology and weapon systems integration for more than 130 planes.
“South Korea’s competitive selection of our RACR last year gave us an important foothold in the international F-16 upgrade market,” said Jim Hvizd, vice president of International Strategy and Business Development for Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems.
AESA radars like RACR use electronics to steer radar waves, giving them far more flexibility than previous technology based on moving transmitters.
This contract adds the F-16 Fighting Falcon to the roster of fighters already retrofitted with Raytheon AESA radars: the F-15C, F-15E, F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Growler.
"RACR complements and leverages Raytheon's F-16 avionics heritage to provide the lowest risk, most affordable and highest reliability AESA retrofit solution," said Hvizd.
Raytheon's F-16 avionics heritage spans more than 25 years with deliveries of mission critical avionics systems including mission computers, electronic warfare systems, Anti-Jam GPS receivers and various weapons.