USMC turns to Raytheon for more AESA radars
USMC Hornets will feature upgraded AESA radar technology. (Photo: Raytheon)
Upgraded radars for Hornets include gallium nitride semiconductors and phased-array technology.
The USMC has ordered additional APG-79(V)4 AESA radars from Raytheon Intelligence & Space (RI&S) in two contracts worth a total of $63 million.
An upgraded version of the APG-79 AESA, which equips F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters and EA-18G Growler EW aircraft, will be integrated on the F/A-18C/D Hornet.
The latest orders follow previous contracts with a combined value of about $110 million.
The use of gallium nitride and phased-array technology with the upgraded radar will help pilots to detect and track enemy aircraft from longer ranges with greater accuracy, RI&S claimed in a 13 December statement.
Eric Ditmars, VP of secure sensor solutions, said: ‘The upgraded APG-79(V)4 AESA radar offers significant improvements in combat capability, and its increased reliability and sustainability equates to lower maintenance and repair costs, which increases aircraft availability.’
Other users of the APG-79(V)4 include the USN and Royal Canadian Air Force.
Raytheon also recently launched a new lightweight AESA radar and is confident of securing production contracts for it.
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