Boeing contracts Raytheon for APG-79 radar

• Tweet

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., May 25 (UPI) -- Raytheon has been contracted by Boeing to produce 42 APG-79 active electronically scanned array radars for F/A-18 Super Hornet tactical aircraft.

The order is the second procurement of the four-year Multi-Year III program awarded to Raytheon by Boeing.

The APG-79 AESA radar is flown on U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft and on Australian air force F/A-18F Super Hornets.

Raytheon has delivered more than 250 APG-79 AESA radar systems, which have logged more than 175,000 operational flight hours, it said.

"The APG-79 radar has dramatically improved fighter combat capabilities and improved situational awareness for Super Hornet aircrews," said Eric Ditmars, F/A-18 program director, Tactical Airborne Systems, Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems. "The APG-79 AESA hardware offers greater reliability than mechanically scanned array radars, which results in lower life-cycle costs.

"In addition, it provides capabilities that allow warfighters to detect and identify targets beyond the reach of most missiles."

The production of these APG-79 AESA radars will be completed at Raytheon facilities in El Segundo, Calif.; Andover, Mass.; Forest, Miss.; and Dallas.

A milestone celebration was recently conducted with members of the Hornet Industry Team when Boeing and the Navy marked delivery of the 500th Super Hornet to the Navy's tactical aircraft fleet of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers.