The APG-79
Active Electronically
Scanning Array radar
system is the next-generation
agile beam radar for the
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. More
lethal, reliable, and affordable
than its predecessors, the
APG-79 provides the Super
Hornet with precision strike
support and enhanced
situational awareness.
Air Combat & Strike Systems
APG-79
Robert White, Business Development
P.O. Box 902, RE/R01/A508
El Segundo, California, 90245-0902 USA
310.334.0020, fax 310.334.0078
rwhite5@raytheon.com
www.raytheon.com
Active
Electronically
Scanning Array
Radar System
Copyright © 2002 Raytheon Company. All rights reserved.
RTSC MS 7/02 500 4003983
 Air-to-Air
Exovolume Situational
Tracking Awareness • Targets engaged at very long ranges
• Reduced aircrew workload via resource
manager
Steady State Track
Short Range Track
Air-to-Surface
Multi-target
Track Weapon
• High resolution ground mapping at
Weapon Quality long standoff ranges
Support Track
• Interleaved mode capability

Active
Electronically
Scanning Array
(AESA)
• Array architecture pro-
vides benefits of lower
weight, reduced aper-
ture depth, and
enhanced reliability
• Wideband multifunction
array supports a variety
of waveforms for air-
Motion Sensor
Subsystem and
Radar Power System
• Motion sensor compen-
sates for aperture motion
• Radar power subsystem
is highly fault tolerant
Ground Mapping
Reliability and Cost
Sea Surface Search
and Acquisition • Synthetic aperture radar
• Real beam ground map • Five fold increase in system reliability
• Built-in test capable of isolation to
line replaceable modules
• Graceful array degradation via robust
transmit/receive module design
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 • Significantly lower operating cost
▲ Prototype Development Authorized
▲ Preliminary Design Review Development Schedule and Status
▲ Milestone II Approval
▲ EMD Phase Contract Award • Full scale development, 2000–2003;
▲ Radar Critical Design Review
▲ 1st Flight flight test begins in 2003; low rate initial
Development Testing production in 2005; IOC in 2006; first
TECHEVAL deployment in 2007
OPEVAL
Low Rate Initial Production
▲ IOC ▲1st
Deployment
AESA Development Schedule
Common Integrated
Sensor Processor

Mean Time Between Critical Failure

and derived from estab- Common F/A-18E/F
to-air, air-to-ground, • COTS-based Power PC ® Receiver/Exciter Integrated Sensor
lished radar design (REX)
and electronic warfare modular design Processor (CISP)
Receiver/Exciter

$ Per Flight Hour

• Power subsystem > 5X
• Sixth generation designed for support of • Obsolescence mitigated • Four channels Aircraft
transmit/receive module modular transmit/receive via open system architec- Avionics
ture and software • Programmable waveform
architecture generation Radar Power Motion Sensor
isolation Lower
Active Array Supply Subsystem O&S
• Processing speed can be • Wide bandwidth Antenna cost

upgraded for future • Fast frequency agility

applications • Low noise/spurious Aircraft Prime Power Power
RF and APG-73 AESA APG-73 AESA
Control

APG-79 Radar Architecture and Subsystems Cost Reliability