Defense News

Navy turns to Raytheon for aircraft sensor upgrades

By James LaPorta   |   Feb. 14, 2018 at 11:41 AM
An F/A-18 Super Hornet flies over USS Nimitz. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Elesia K. Patten/U.S. Navy n EA-18G Growler, assigned to the Cougars of Electronic Attack Squadron 139, launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Spencer Roberts/U.S. Navy

Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Raytheon has been awarded a contract for additional hardware and software developments for sensor systems on board F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers.

The deal, announced Tuesday by the Department of Defense, is valued at more than $8.8 million and is a modification to a previous award under the terms of a cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract.

What additional developments are planned for the sensor systems is unknown, but Raytheon manufactures the AN/APG-79 Radar Active Electronically Scanned Array, or AESA, for F/A-18 aircrews.

The APG-79 is said to optimize the situational awareness of Super Hornet pilots while providing air-to-air and air-to-surface enhanced capabilities. The APG-79 can also be integrated onto the EA-18G Growler.

Work on the contract will occur in El Segundo, Calif., and is expected to be complete by December 2021, the Pentagon said.

No funds will be obligated to Raytheon at time of award as individual task orders received by the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division will determine funding as they are issued.