Northrop Grumman pushes SABR for USAF F-16
Northrop Grumman continues its efforts to provide its Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) for the US Air Force’s F-16 aircraft, outlining the advanced mapping capabilities that the Big SAR (synthetic aperture radar) will bring the system.
According to the company, Big SAR will deliver the largest, sharpest radar images ever available in an F-16.
The company is offering its SABR for the US Air Force’s F-16 radar upgrade programme. The system has already demonstrated several advanced radar capabilities for the F-16, including a series of demonstrations conducted in 2010 at Edwards Air Force Base in support of the F-16 AESA feasibility study.
With automatic target cueing, the SABR Big SAR will offer an advanced level of situational awareness and target identification for F-16 pilots. Northrop Grumman believes SABR optimises radar system performance within existing power and cooling allocations of legacy F-16s worldwide and will ensure F-16 fleets remain relevant for decades to come.
SABR is a multifunction active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar designed specifically for F-16 retrofit. It provides longer detection and tracking ranges, high-resolution SAR maps for all-environment precision targeting, interleaved mode operations for greater situational awareness and greater reliability.
Joseph Ensor, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Targeting Systems Division, said: ‘SABR's Big SAR is high-definition radar imagery that covers a large area on the ground in a single image. This advance will give F-16 pilots the largest maps with the most detail that they have ever seen in the cockpit. Combined with SABR's automatic target cueing capability, the F-16 will have targeting capabilities unmatched by any other fourth-generation fighter.’
Raytheon is also in the running for the programme, offering its Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar (RACR) for the F-16. This RACR system was recently selected for the South Korean F-16 aircraft, for which the SABR was also being offered by Northrop Grumman.
More from Defence Notes
-
![How the Pentagon will use private capital to fund critical capabilities]()
How the Pentagon will use private capital to fund critical capabilities
The DoD has changed its structures and is been increasing efforts to facilitate access to loans by companies interested in working with artificial intelligence, advanced materials and semiconductors, biotechnology and quantum science.
-
![HAL is major beneficiary of latest Indian procurement approvals]()
HAL is major beneficiary of latest Indian procurement approvals
India has approved millions of dollars in new military purchases, most of which will go to public sector companies.
-
![Why cybersecurity must be a priority for Latin American militaries]()
Why cybersecurity must be a priority for Latin American militaries
The main obstacles to overcoming risks in the region are a lack of a strong cybersecurity culture and inadequate funds to invest in this domain given a widespread Chinese presence in the region.
-
![MBDA navigates supply chain pressures amidst increased demand for armaments]()
MBDA navigates supply chain pressures amidst increased demand for armaments
MBDA is adapting to supply chain pressures as the Russian invasion of Ukraine leads to increased demand for armaments.
-
![Why UK defence still faces an uncertain future and difficult decisions]()
Why UK defence still faces an uncertain future and difficult decisions
Despite the additional funding promised this week, the UK armed forces still look set to face cutbacks, and maintaining international commitments to AUKUS and GCAP may limit the options for other programmes.
-
![What's the deal with defence procurement? (podcast)]()
What's the deal with defence procurement? (podcast)
This week on the Shephard Defence Podcast, senior naval reporter Harry Lye and military training & simulation reporter Norbert Neumann chat with Professor John Louth.
