July 15, 2011 T. Hartley / Forecast International – defpro.com
NEWTOWN, Conn. | The APG-78(V) is the fire control radar that equips the Boeing AH-64 Apache Longbow helicopter. The radar interfaces with the HELLFIRE missile fire system, giving it a fire-and-forget capability. In December 2010, Longbow, LLC (a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman) marked the delivery of the 400th Longbow radar.
Future sales of the radar look promising, as evidenced by the number of notifications to the U.S. Congress of potential Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of the Apache and its APG-78(V). In October 2010, the DSCA notified Congress of a possible FMS to the government of Saudi Arabia of 10 AH-64D Block III Apaches, seven APG-78 radars, and related electronics. The following month, Congress was notified of a possible FMS to the United Arab Emirates of 30 AH-64D Block II aircraft remanufactured to Block III configuration and 30 AH-64D Block III helicopters, as well as 70 APG-78 radars and several other systems. DSCA ended 2010 by notifying Congress of a possible direct commercial sale to the government of India of 22 AH-64D Block III Apaches, 12 APG-78 radars, and related equipment.
In the future, Longbow LLC could see more APG-78 radar contracts when countries upgrade their older Apaches to the AH-64D standard.
Forecast International is currently updating its APG-78(V) Longbow Radar market intelligence report, which is available in selected Electronic Systems services. A report on the Boeing AH-64 Apache is included in FI's Rotorcraft service.
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