Northrop Grumman boosts F-16's combat edge with $14 million radar upgrade
The U.S. Department of Defense has granted Northrop Grumman a $14 million contract to continue upgrading the radar systems for the U.S. Air Force's F-16 fighter jets.This latest modification to the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar system brings the total value of the multi-year contract to over $1.68 billion, according to the press statement released by the Department of Defense release.
The Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar is a phased array antenna system capable of operating on multiple frequencies and directions simultaneously.
It is used in aerial, ground, and sea-based systems. Its beams are less detectable and more effective compared to earlier radar models.
Upgrading the AESA radar will boost the F-16's combat effectiveness by enhancing detection range, tracking accuracy, electronic protection, and situational awareness.
These improvements are essential for keeping the aircraft effective in modern air combat, especially against peer adversaries in contested environments.
The upgraded radar also enables simultaneous air-to-air and air-to-ground targeting and supports integration with advanced weapon systems.
In earlier statements, the U.S. Air Force has highlighted the importance of these radar upgrades in extending the F-16's service life and operational value.
The aircraft remains a vital part of U.S. and allied air forces around the world.
The radar upgrade is part of a long-term modernization effort for the F-16, designed to ensure its operational viability for the next decade. While newer platforms like the F-35 are being gradually introduced, upgraded F-16s remain crucial for providing airpower across various theaters.
The upgrade work will be carried out at Linthicum Heights, Maryland, and is expected to be finished by May 31, 2031.
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is overseeing the program. The contract is funded with $5.68 million from fiscal 2023 procurement, $5.98 million from fiscal 2024 RDT&E, and $2.54 million from fiscal 2025 RDT&E.
Northrop Grumman has received multiple contracts from the U.S. Air Force, including a $175.6 million deal awarded last week for the procurement of its radio frequency countermeasure, or RFCM, system.
Earlier this year, the DoD also awarded the global aerospace and defense technology company two significant contracts totaling $1.4 billion to advance air and missile defense capabilities for the U.S. Army and Poland.
The American defense company is also developing N/APG-85, an AESA radar for the F-35 Lightning II for the U.S. Air Force.
The advanced multifunction sensor will be compatible with all variants of the F-35 aircraft and will be capable of defeating current and projected adversarial air and surface threats.
The development and integration of APG-85 will incorporate some of the latest technologies available and help ensure air superiority.
This advanced sensor will provide unparalleled battlespace situational awareness that translates into platform lethality, effectiveness, and survivability.
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