AN/APG-77

{{Short description|Type of radar system}}

{{Infobox Radar

|name = AN/APG-77

|manufacturer= Westinghouse (acquired by Northrop Grumman), Texas Instruments (acquired by Raytheon)

|image = File:AN-APG-77, AESA, Active Electronically Scanned Array, Northrop Grumman, 2001 - National Electronics Museum - DSC00388.jpg

|caption = AN/APG-77 in the National Electronics Museum

|country = United States

|introdate =

|number =

|type = Solid-state active electronically scanned array (AESA)

|frequency =

|range =

|altitude =

|diameter =

|azimuth = 120°

|elevation =

|precision =

|power = 20 kW peak{{Cite web|url=https://www.forecastinternational.com/archive/disp_pdf.cfm?DACH_RECNO=941|title=Forecast International: Intelligence Center}}

}}

The AN/APG-77 is a multifunction low probability of intercept radar installed on the F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft. The radar was designed and initially built by Westinghouse and Texas Instruments, and production continued with their respective successors Northrop Grumman and Raytheon after acquisition.

It is a solid-state, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. Composed of 1,956 transmit/receive modules (TRM), each about the size of a gum stick, it can perform a near-instantaneous beam steering (in the order of tens of nanoseconds).{{Cite web |title = Future DoD Airborne High-Frequency Radar Needs/Resources |date = April 2001 |publisher = Department of Defense |url = http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports/ADA391893.pdf |page= 19 |url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120920222300/http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports/ADA391893.pdf |archivedate = 2012-09-20}}

The APG-77 was highly appreciated by pilots transitioning from F-15s upon the F-22's introduction in 2005, providing a massive boost in situational awareness. The APG-77 has an incredibly fast scan time across its 120 degree field of view and could detect aircraft from over 320 mi (515 km) away. The AN/APG-77 system itself exhibits a very low radar cross-section, supporting the F-22's stealthy design.{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Carl |date=November 2005 |title=The Raptor Arrives |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/the-raptor-arrives-6953408/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122034247/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/the-raptor-arrives-6953408/ |archive-date=January 22, 2022 |access-date=December 3, 2023 |website=Air and Space Magazine}} The upgraded APG-77(V)1 may have an even greater range. Much of the technology developed for the APG-77 was used in the AN/APG-81 radar for the F-35 Lightning II, and in turn the technology from the APG-81 was applied to the upgraded APG-77(V)1.

The APG-77(V)1 was installed on F-22 Raptors from Lot 5 onwards.{{Cite web |title= F-22 Raptor To Get Upgraded Radar |website= Defense Update |date = 2 April 2007 |url = https://defense-update.com/newscast/0407/news_020407.htm#raptor |access-date = 2016-11-22 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161122220431/https://defense-update.com/newscast/0407/news_020407.htm#raptor |archive-date = 2016-11-22 |url-status = dead}} This provided improved air-to-air performance, full air-to-ground functionality (high-resolution synthetic aperture radar mapping, ground moving target indication and track (GMTI/GMTT), automatic cueing and recognition, combat identification, and many other advanced features).{{Cite web |title=APG-77(V) |url=https://www.forecastinternational.com/archive/disp_pdf.cfm?DACH_RECNO=942}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.air-attack.com/news/article/2418/Northrop-Successfully-Completes-F-22-Radar-Flight-Test-Certification.html |title=Northrop Successfully Completes F-22 Radar Flight-Test Certification |access-date=2009-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802172752/http://www.air-attack.com/news/article/2418/Northrop-Successfully-Completes-F-22-Radar-Flight-Test-Certification.html |archive-date=2009-08-02 |url-status=dead }}

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