Raytheon Co. has delivered its 250th APG-79 active electronically scanned array radar to Boeing. The APG-79 radar is flown on US Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft, and on the Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet.
“As we recognize this milestone of the 250th APG-79 AESA delivery, it is also significant to note that 85 radar systems were completed for the US Navy in just the last 12 months,” said Eric Ditmars, F/A-18 Program Director, Tactical Airborne Systems. “The APG-79 radar has revolutionized fighter combat capabilities and dramatically improved situational awareness for aircrews. This combat-proven, advanced radar technology also has logged more than 175,000 operational flight hours.”
The APG-79 AESA hardware offers 10 to 15 times greater reliability than mechanically scanned array radars, which results in lower life-cycle costs. In addition, it provides capabilities that allow warfighters to detect and identify targets beyond the reach of most missiles. The APG-79 AESA radar is in operation with more than a dozen US Navy squadrons. Internationally, the Royal Australian Air Force received the radar system in 2010, marking the delivery of the first foreign military sale of Super Hornets equipped with the APG-79.