AN/APG-79

AN/APG-79 is the main radar on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and its derivative EA-18G Growler

The AN/APG-79 is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar developed for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft of the United States Navy. The radar replaces the legacy AN/APG-73 on the Super Hornet. AESA technology provides quick updates on multiple targets, and its solid-state antenna construction makes it more reliable and cost-effective than traditional radar systems. The radar has a range of up to 150 km (81 nmi; 93 mi) tracking multiple targets simultaneously.

In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the "AN/APG-79" designation represents the 79th design of an Army-Navy airborne electronic device for radar fire-control equipment. The JETDS system also now is used to name all Department of Defense electronic systems.

Milestones

As of July 2008, Raytheon had delivered one hundred APG-79 sets to the US Navy, with a contract for 437 more. In an April 2011 press release, Raytheon announced they had delivered the 250th APG-79.

In January 2013, the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) disclosed poor reliability issues with the APG-79 radar during its initial operational testing as a result of software instability.

Variants

AN/APG-79(V)4

The AN/APG-79(V)4 was selected in December 2020 for retrofitting US Navy and US Marine Corps' F/A-18C/D Hornets, and upgrading the fleets of Canadian CF-188 Hornets,. The APG-79(V)4 uses gallium nitride (GaN) transmit/receive modules, which enables the radar to achieve comparable performance to the larger F/A-18E/F APG-79 from the smaller Legacy Hornet aperture. The greater power density of the GaN modules required the installation of a liquid cooling system, compared to the forced-air cooling on the legacy AN/APG-73.

AN/APQ-188

AN/APQ-188 on B-52.

The AN/APQ-188 is the designation for an upgraded variant of the APG-79 adapted by Raytheon for the B-52 Stratofortress Radar Modernization Program (RMP), replacing the Cold War-era mechanically scanned AN/APQ-166. The new radar would also incorporate technology from the AN/APG-82(V)1 of the F-15E Strike Eagle/F-15EX Eagle II aircraft. Under the RMP, the APQ-188 would replace the existing APQ-166 and the upgraded aircraft would be redesignated as the B-52J.

Operators

See also

References

  1. ↑ "GaAs radar adds grunt to Growler". Compound Semiconductor. 26 July 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "AN/APG-79". 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. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  4. ↑ Jennings, Faith (1 July 2008). "Full Speed Ahead: Raytheon Delivers 100th AESA Radar for Super Hornets, Growlers". Raytheon (Press Release). 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.
  5. ↑ "Raytheon Delivers 250th APG-79 AESA Radar". Microwave Journal.com (Press Release). 6 April 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  6. ↑ Gilmore, J Michael (January 2014). FY 2013 Annual Report - Navy Programs - F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler (PDF) (Report). Washington, D.C.: Director, Operational Test and Evaluation. p. 174. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  7. ↑ "F/A-18 Air Dominance". Raytheon (Press Release). Archived from the original on 13 January 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  8. ↑ Trevithick, Joseph (23 September 2021). "It's Official: Canada's CF-18 Hornet Fighters Are Set To Get New Advanced Radars". The War Zone. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  9. ↑ "L3Harris delivers first aircraft of Hornet Extension Project". Skies Magazine. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  10. ↑ Trimble, Steve (28 June 2021). "Fighter Radars Poised For Gallium Nitride Breakthrough". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  11. ↑ "Keeping 4th-generation fighters relevant". Raytheon Intelligence & Space. 8 July 2021. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022.
  12. ↑ Machi, Vivienne (11 July 2019). "Raytheon Wins Contract to Provide New AESA Radars to B-52 Aircraft". Defense Daily. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  13. ↑ Rogers, Brig Gen William S; Foreman, Col Scott E (31 December 2023). Modernized Selected Acquisition Report (MSAR) B-52 Radar Modernization Program (RMP) (B-52 RMP) (PDF) (Report). Washington, D.C.: Department of Defense. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  14. ↑ Trevithick, Joseph (28 August 2025). "B-52 Radar Upgrade Flight Testing Expected To Finally Begin Soon". The War Zone. Retrieved 31 August 2025.