AN/APG-79

The AN/APG-79 is a variant of an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar developed for the United States Navy's Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Boeing EA-18G Growler aircraft, providing a high level of aircrew situational awareness. The beam of the AESA radar provides fast track updates and multi-target tracking capability. The APG-79 AESA uses transmit/receive (TR) modules populated with gallium arsenide monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC).[1] In the F/A-18E/F, the radar is installed in a slide-out nose rack to facilitate maintenance.

The APG-79 features an entirely solid-state antenna construction, which improves reliability, durability, and reduces the cost compared to a traditional radar system.[2]

The radar has a range of up to 150 km (80 nm) and multi-target tracking capabilities.[3]

The APG-79 is compatible with current F/A-18 weapon loads and enables aircrew to fire weapons such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM, and simultaneously guide several missiles to several targets widely spaced in azimuth, elevation or range.[4]

F/A-18F Super Hornet from VX-9 with AESA radar

The APG-79 radar completed formal operational evaluation (OPEVAL) testing in December 2006. As of January 2007, the radar was installed in 28 aircraft; some aircraft were experiencing software problems but that issue was expected to be resolved by the end of the fiscal year 2007.[5] As of July 2008, Raytheon had delivered 100 APG-79 sets to the United States Navy; on 3 June 2008, the Navy received the first APG-79-equipped Boeing EA-18G Growler. The Navy expects to order approximately 437 production radars.[6]

In January 2013, the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) disclosed a long history of problems for the APG-79 radar in its initial operational testing.[7]

In December 2020, Raytheon offered AN/APG-79 for retrofitting the F/A-18 C/D.[8] In July 2021 the United States Marine Corps selected AN/APG-79(V)4 with gallium nitride (GaN) transmitters to upgrade their fleet of F/A-18 fighters.[9] The new radar was flight-tested in May 2022.[10]

The APG-79B4 version is slated to be installed inverted on the B-52 during its Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP)[11][12][13]

In 2022 Malaysia chose the APG-79(V)4 for the upgrade of their fleet of F/A-18C/D Hornets and the newly purchased FA-50 Golden Eagle[14]

See also

References
  1. "GaAs radar adds grunt to Growler - News". Compound Semiconductor. 26 July 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  2. "AN/APG-79 - Radartutorial". www.radartutorial.eu. Retrieved 14 December 2020. The AN/APG-79 radar is composed of a numerous solid-state transmit and receive modules to virtually eliminate mechanical breakdown.
  3. "AN/APG-79 AESA – Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance". Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  4. "AN/APG-79 AESA – Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance". Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  5. "Nagging software problem plagues Super Hornet radar". Jane's. 10 January 2007. Archived from the original on 5 February 2007.
  6. Corporate Communications, Raytheon (1 July 2008). "Full Speed Ahead: Raytheon Delivers 100th AESA Radar for Super Hornets, Growlers". Raytheon News Release Archive. Retrieved 14 December 2020. Raytheon Company has delivered its 100th APG-79 active electronically scanned array radar system to Boeing and the U.S. Navy for use on F/A-18 and EA-18G aircraft.
  7. "Gilmore JM, 15-Feb-2013. Info Memo - F-35A Ready For Training Operational Utility Evaluation (OUE)". Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  8. "F/A-18 Air Dominance | Raytheon". www.raytheon.com. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  9. "Keeping 4th-generation fighters relevant - AESA and GaN technology provide a mission advantage".
  10. David Donald. AESA Radar for ‘Classic’ Hornet Fighter Makes First Flight. Aviation International News (May 11, 2022)
  11. Leone, Dario (11 August 2022). "The B-52H will be redesignated the B-52J or possibly B-52K when it gets a new radar and new engines". The Aviation Geek Club. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  12. Satam, Parth (15 August 2022). "America's 'Big Ugly Fat' Aircraft To Get F/A-18 Super Hornet AESA Radar That Boeing Is Pitching To Indian Navy". Latest Asian, Middle-East, EurAsian, Indian News. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  13. D'Urso, Stefano (25 September 2022). "B-52 Completes Wind Tunnel Testing Of New Engine Nacelles". The Aviationist. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  14. "Radar AESA APG-79 Jadi Pilihan FA-50 Block 20?". 2 October 2022.
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