Sales of Raytheon's APG-79 AESA Radar Support New and Upgraded Super Hornets

source defense-update.com

August 26, 2011 T. Hartley, Forecast International – defpro.com

The APG-79(V) multimode radar supports both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions and features active electronically scanned array (AESA) technology. In May 2011, Boeing awarded Raytheon a contract for 42 radars in the second procurement of the four-year Multi-Year III program for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Raytheon is also supplying APG-73 radar to support U.S. Navy EA-18G aircraft and Royal Australian F/A-18F Super Hornets. In addition, another 114 F/A-18E/Fs currently equipped with the APG-73 radar are expected to be upgraded with the APG-79.

Because the APG-79(V) radar is installed on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, it is attracting growing interest from militaries worldwide. Many of these potential customers see the F/A-18E/F as a stopgap measure until more advanced fighters such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter become available. Others see the F/A-18E/F as a cost-effective alternative to the F-35 JSF. However, the F/A-18E/F is competing against formidable opponents such as the Boeing F-15E, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin's F-16C/D, the Russian Aircraft Corporation (RAC) MiG MiG-35, and the Saab Gripen. Also a possible source of APG-79(V) sales are the owners of older F/A-18 aircraft who wish to upgrade their radars. Forecast International is projecting that approximately 300 radars will be sold during the coming decade.

Forecast International is currently updating its APG-79(V) market intelligence report, featured in its Electronic Systems Service. The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet market intelligence report is included in FI's Military Aircraft Forecast Service.