Raytheon to Provide Revolutionary AESA Capabilities to 135 F/A-18s
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Jan. 23, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Navy is
retrofitting 135 Super Hornets with Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) APG-79
active electronically scanned array radar.
An initial contract worth nearly $55 million authorizes Raytheon to
supply 19 AESA systems, spares and maintenance. This ensures Super Hornets
manufactured before installation of the APG-79 will benefit from Raytheon's
new advanced sensor technology.
The APG-79 program is moving toward full-rate production in
anticipation of delivering 415 systems plus spares to the Navy and 24
systems to the Royal Australian Air Force in coming years.
"The retrofit program further enhances the Navy's airborne
capabilities, ensuring our customer has game-changing sensor technology
across the majority of its airborne assets," said Dr. Tom Kennedy, vice
president for Raytheon's Tactical Airborne Systems business.
"Our operational AESA radar delivers a range of advanced options
including non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance,
high-speed transfer of actionable information, unparalleled situational
awareness, and targeting capabilities at greater ranges than ever."
Two AESA-equipped fleet squadrons are training for deployment expected
in 2008. They are the Black Lions of VFA-213 at Naval Air Station Oceana
and the Fighting Redcocks of VFA-22 at Naval Air Station Lemoore.
AESA-equipped Super Hornets are also being added to two training squadrons
so aircrews can learn how best to maximize the advanced capabilities of the
APG-79.
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