Northrop Grumman’s first few active electronically scanned array radars for the F-16 Radar Modernization Program have already entered production and completed several key design reviews, the company announced. “I am proud to say that we are producing [engineering and manufacturing development] assets now that will be used for final integration and testing,” said Jeff Leavitt, company combat avionics vice president. “These EMD assets are anticipated to be identical to future production units,” he added. The Air Force selected the company’s Scalable Agile Beam Radar in a competition to retrofit some 300 late-block Air Force, and Taiwanese F-16s with modern AESA radar last July. Since then, the SABR has completed three “major development and design reviews,” and proceeded into limited production, according to the Feb. 4 release. SABR has flown more than 200 flight-test hours and completed more than 4,500 ground test hours, Northrop Grumman stated.
The Pentagon has concluded a new agreement to buy laser-guidance kits that turn rockets into drone-killing weapons. BAE Systems and the Defense Department announced a framework deal of up to seven years for 25,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits annually for the U.S. military.