Northrop Grumman officials said they expect the Air Force to “imminently” release a request for proposals outlining requirements for upgrading the radars on at least 300 F-16s, said Joe Ensor, general manager of the company’s ISR and targeting division. The Air Force intends to equip these F-16s with advanced electronically scanned array radar systems. Speaking during a Sept. 10 briefing with reporters in Washington, D.C., Ensor said the radar upgrade is likely to be separate from the planned service life extension program for the service’s F-16s. “We are working with the Air Force very closely on that right now,” he said. Company officials announced last year that they had begun incorporating software modes from the F-35 strike fighter’s APG-81 AESA radar, which Northrop Grumman supplies, into its Scaleable Agile Beam Radar design for the F-16. Appearing with Ensor, Pat Antkowiak, general manager of Northrop Grumman’s advanced concept and technology division, said integrating SABR on the F-16 would significantly boost the fighter’s capabilities. Raytheon is also expected to vie for the rights to upgrade the F-16s with its Advanced Combat Radar, or RACR, offering.
Competitors Not Picked for CCA Look Forward to Increment 2
April 25, 2024
While none of the major aircraft contractors were selected to develop the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, all three say they are seeking further autonomous aircraft work for the Navy, foreign partners, or in the classified arena, and maybe future versions of the CCA itself.