Raytheon moves ahead with retrofitting U.S.Navy fighter jets with AESA airborne radar

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PATUXENT RIVER NAS, Md., 5 April 2009. U.S. Navy officials are awarding radar technology firm Raytheon Co. a $54.5 million contract to provide airborne radar systems for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet jet fighter under terms of a contract announced Thursday.

The contract, from Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., is to provide 19 AN/APG-79 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar systems for Super Hornet fighter bombers lots 26 to 29.

The AESA radar can interleave surveillance radar and ground-attack radar capabilities to enable Super Hornet aircrews to use these different radar systems simultaneously to enhance the aircraft's lethality and reduce its vulnerability.

The AESA fighter jet radar enables the radar beam to be steered for situational awareness and air-to-air and air-to-ground capability. IT uses an open architecture and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) parts. Its array is composed of solid-state transmit and receive modules.

Both the Super Hornet single seat E and two-seat F models convert quickly from one mission type to the next with the flip of a switch to provide consistent air dominance:

*Day/night strikes with precision-guided weapons
*Anti-air warfare
*Fighter escort
*Close air support
*Suppression of enemy air defense
*Maritime strike
*Reconnaissance
*Forward air control
*Tanker
*Payload Flexibility

The Super Hornet's versatility applies to its weapon stations and payload types:

*11 weapon stations
*Supports a full complement of smart weapons, including laser-guided bombs
*Carries a full spectrum mix of air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnance

The Super Hornet is powered by two General Electric F414-GE-400 engines:

*Distinctive caret-shaped inlet to provide increased airflow and reduced
radar signature
*22,000 pounds (98 Kn) of thrust per engine, 44,000 pounds (196 Kn) per
aircraft

Flight qualities:

*Highly departure resistant through its operational flight envelope.
*Unlimited angle-of-attack and carefree flying qualities for highly effective
combat capability and ease of training.
*Reconfigurable digital flight-control system detects and corrects for battle
damage.
*Upgradeability
*Long-term designed in versatility ensures the Super Hornet's investment
value.

Current upgrades delivered in the Block Two configuration include:

*Active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar
*Advanced targeting forward-looking infrared (ATFLIR) system
*Joint-helmet mounted cueing system (JHMCS)
*Multifunctional information distribution system (MIDS)
*Advanced aft crew station
*Fibre channel switch for increased data processing capability
*Fully integrated weapons systems and sensors for reduced crew workload
and increased capability.


U.S. Navy F-18 Super Hornet