AN/APG-80
The AN/APG-80 is an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) system designed and manufactured by Northrop Grumman for use on the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft.[http://www.es.northropgrumman.com/solutions/f16aesaradar/ "AN/APG-80 description page"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119123532/http://www.es.northropgrumman.com/solutions/f16aesaradar/ |date=January 19, 2009 }} Northrop Grumman It was originally designed to be included on the F-16C/D Block 60 Desert Falcon aircraft ordered by the United Arab Emirates, subsequently reclassified as the F-16E/F Block 60 Desert Falcons; first deliveries were made in 2003.Vanhastel, Stefaan (August 27, 2003)[http://www.f-16.net/news_article827.html "Northrop Grumman delivers first AN/APG-80 radar for F-16 Block 60" ] f-16.net[http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/11/11/219363/dubai-2007-uae-shows-off-its-most-advanced-falcons.html "Dubai 2007: UAE shows off its most advanced Falcons ]" Flightglobal.com, November 11, 2007
In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the "AN/APG-80" designation represents the 80th 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.
Features
The AN/APG-80 system is described as "agile beam", and can perform air-to-air, search-and-track, air-to-ground targeting and aircraft terrain-following functions simultaneously and for multiple targets. As an AESA system utilizing NG's fourth-generation transmitter/receiver technologies, it has a higher reliability and twice the range of older, mechanically-scanned AN/APG-68 radar systems.
It consists of about 1000 Transmit and Receive Modules. The APG-80 is designed to search continuously for and track multiple targets within the forward hemisphere of the aircraft. As a result of increased operational flexibility, pilots will be able to simultaneously perform air-to-air search-and-track, air-to-ground targeting and aircraft terrain-following. Energetic ranges of target detection against it RCS is tabulated be low;{{Cite web|title=AN/APG-80 - Radartutorial|url=https://www.radartutorial.eu/19.kartei/08.airborne/karte020.en.html|access-date=2020-10-01|website=www.radartutorial.eu|language=en}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ Energetic ranges of target detection !Example !Radar Cross-Section !Range |
| AA-missile
|0.0001 m² |> 11 km |
| stealth fighter
|0.001 m² |> 20 km |
| cruise missile
|0.1 m² |> 62 km |
| classic fighter
|1.0 m² |> 110 km |
| bomber
|5.0 m² |> 165 km |
| passenger aircraft
|10.0 m² |> 195 km |
Development
The United Arab Emirates funded the entire $3 billion Block 60 development costs, including the AN/APG-80, which is the operational core of the aircraft. According to press reports quoted by Flight International, this is "the first time the US has sold a better aircraft overseas than its own forces fly". Developmental flight tests were performed on Northrop Grumman's highly modified BAC 1-11 test bed aircraft, based at Baltimore.
See also
{{Portal|Electronics|Aviation}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.ausairpower.net/aesa-intro.html "Active Electronically Steered Arrays" from Air Power Australia] (AESA background information)
{{Northrop Grumman|state=collapsed}}
Category:Northrop Grumman radars