A Northrop Grumman-led industry team with Lockheed Martin and L-3 Communications has tested a unique application of the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for high-bandwidth communications. Northrop officials say that the technology breakthrough demonstrated with the F-22 fighter’s AN/APG-77 radar aperture and a common data link modem emulator mean Northrop’s AESA and L-3’s CDL modem can transmit both communication and imagery data at two to four times the standard modem speed. They say the capability directly supports emerging non-traditional ISR efforts, especially efforts to have the F-22 and F-35 transmit and receive large, uncompressed data packages and images within seconds.
Multiple U.S. Air Force F-15 fighters have deployed to the strategic outpost of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to protect the myriad of assets deployed there, including strategic bombers.