Contributor - UK

David Donald

The U.S. Air Force has successfully demonstrated operations with four Lockheed Martin F-16Cs fitted with active electronically steered array radars, the service announced in August. Four F-16Cs—two from the 40th Flight Test Squadron and two from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron—last month operated from their home base at Eglin AFB, Florida,&nbsp;each fitted with the Northrop Grumman APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR).

 


Each aircraft carried an AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod and ASQ-213 HARM Targeting System pod, both of which can be integrated with the operations of the radar. Three of them wore the latest Have Glass V paint scheme, an all-over mid-grey covering of radar-absorbing paint.

 


The tests were conducted on July 2 under the aegis of the Operational Flight Program Combined Test Force (OFP CTF). The squadrons represent both developmental (40th FLTS) and operational (85th TES) test aspects, which are brought together by the OFP CTF into a joint trials campaign. Flying against and with F-15 Eagles, the trials assessed whether there was any interference between the radars and whether their capability was improved or degraded when they were working together in close proximity. The four-ship is the standard fighting formation for most air combat missions.

 


In comparison with the F-16’s legacy radar—the mechanically-scanned APG-68—the APG-83 offers improved air-to-air performance and better ground-mapping, as well as assisting in the defense suppression role.

 


&nbsp;“This capability allows us to target the northwest corner of a small building or the cockpit of an aircraft from several miles away, beyond-line-of-sight,” said Jack Harman, 40th FLTS F-16 test pilot. “[The radar] improves our ability to identify the threat prior to us being targeted—we no longer have to be inside a threat envelope in order to detect it.”

 


Drawing on technology from the APG-77 and APG-81 radars in the F-22 and F-35, the APG-83 is at the heart of the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2018-07-18/plenty-life-left-f-16">F-16V/Block 70</a> program for new-build and upgraded F-16s. The radar has already been selected by a number of export customers as part of upgrade programs or included in new-build purchases. The first radars were <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2015-10-23/first-f-16v-developed-taiwan-requirement-takes-flight">delivered for Taiwan</a> in late 2016.

 


In June 2017 the SABR was selected for installation in 72 F-16s for&nbsp;the U.S. Air National Guard to meet a U.S. Northern Command Joint Emergent Operational Need for improved homeland defense. In January 2020 the first installations were completed on F-16s at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

 


Beyond that initial requirement, the Air Force wishes to roll out the APG-83 across around 350 F-16s in its fleet as part of a major structural and equipment life extension program. “From an F-16 standpoint, we haven’t received significant hardware in years,” said Harman. “We’re undergoing at least 13 new programs for the aircraft and it’s happening almost simultaneously.”

 


In December 2019 an umbrella contract was signed for 372 APG-83 radars to be delivered by 2027. A <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2020-03-03/us-air-force-orders-aesa-radar-f-16s">$262 million order</a> for the first 90 of them, plus 15 for trials, was firmed up in February.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

U.S. Air Force Begins F-16 AESA Multi-ship Trials

The U.S. Air Force plans to equip around 350 of its F-16s with SABR radar to see them through into the 2040s.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Joseph Carfagna Jr.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Certainty benefits the preowned business aircraft market

AINsight: Election Results and the Fence

Kerry Lynch

Ultra-long-range model has amassed 75 records, many from customer trips

Speed Records Abound for Bombardier's Global 7500

We talk through the process from conception to delivery

Flying Privately: How Aircraft Like the Bombardier Global 8000 Come to Life

Hanneke Weitering

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

AltiSky will assemble, sell, and service VoltAero's aircraft

VoltAero Picks U.S. Distributor for Cassio Hybrid-electric Aircraft 

Jennifer Leach English

Company noncommittal on expanding its lineup upwards, citing $1B investment cost

Embraer’s Plans for a Larger Bizjet Remain Up in the Air

Operations ebbed, backlogs were steady, and available aircraft increased

GJC: Bizjet Market Continues To Stabilize in 3Q2024

Greenville-based charter operator pre-orders 10 eVTOL air taxis

SAI Flight To Operate SkyDrive eVTOL in South Carolina

Charles Alcock

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

In this article

Lockheed Martin F-16

More In Aircraft