The
Air Force wants Raytheon and Northrop Grumman to compete for a contract to upgrade the Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle radar system with an active electronically scanned array, according to Flight International. Raytheon upgraded 18 of USAF’s F-15Cs with the APG-63 and recently won a contract to upgrade Navy F/A-18E/F aircraft. Currently, USAF is considering whether to add AESA radar to Air National Guard F-15Cs to aid them in homeland defense against cruise missiles. (DR, 9/19/05)
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…

