The AN/APG-68 is an advanced pulse-Doppler radar with increased range, more modes and better resolution compared to the APG-66 radar. The F-16C/D Block 25 were the first Fighting Falcon aircraft to be equipped with the advanced APG-68.
The AN/APG-68(V)9 is the latest development of the APG-68 radar family featuring 33% improvement in air-to-air detection range, reduced ownership costs and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mode. SAR enables high-resolution ground mapping for 24-hour, all-weather precision strike capability.
In August 2004, the US Air Force awarded Northrop-Grumman a two-year $22 million contract to develop a radar replacement kit applicable for approximately 280 USAF's F-16C/D fighter aircraft. The new upgrade kit will provide the (V)9 enhancements to current F-16C/D aircraft. As of March 2006, more than 250 APG-68(V)9 radar systems have been supplied to seven foreign customers as standard equipment on new F-16s.
Northrop-Grumman has manufactured 150 AN/APG-68(V)9 advanced radars for six foreign customers and might manufacture up to 280 upgrade kits for the US Air Force F-16C/Ds. In March 2005, Northrop-Grumman was already working on the APG-68(V)10 model featuring automatic target cueing and new modes for large synthetic aperture radar (SAR) under a $40+ million development contract. The APG-68(V)10 radar system is intended for integration into 240 US Air Force F-16 Block 50/52 aircraft.
In July 2005, the US Air Force awarded Northrop-Grumman a three-year $52 million contract to finish developing of the APG-68(V)10 for the US Air Force 240 F-16C/D Block 50/52 fleet. Both (V)9 and (V)10 variants offer 33 percent increase in air-to-air detection range over earlier variants.
In early March 2006 Northrop Grumman was awarded a $64 million contract to provide 33 AN/APG-68(V)9 radar systems for the Greek Air Force Advanced F-16 Block 52+ aircraft. The contract also included options for 10 additional radars. Deliveries to the Hellenic Air Force were scheduled to start in 2007.
On 15 November 2006 Northrop Grumman was awarded a $99.5 million contract for the procurement of 54 AN/APG-68(V)9 radar systems for the Government of Pakistan for F-16 Block 50/52 new aircraft and modernization program. The contract was expected to be complete May 2010.