Super Hornet Radar Completes Live Fire Flight Test of AMRAAM and JDAM

Released on Monday, October 31, 2005

Super Hornet's radar, AN/APG-79, continues to move smoothly through its development milestones following the successful completion this month of multiple live firing tests using inert AMRAAM and JDAM weapons.

Both AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) and JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) live fire tests were completed according to plan. Both performed well within the operational specifications. These are critical development milestones, as they test the end-to-end air-to-air missile delivery sequence and end-to-end air-to-ground synthetic aperture (SAR) targeting capabilities of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

This series of live fire flight tests prove out the radar's air-to-air and air-to-ground targeting capabilities. The AMRAAM engages long-range targets after launch by incorporating targeting data from the APG-79 AESA. During flight the AMRAAM receives updated tracking/targeting information from the APG-79 AESA radar via data link from the launch aircraft.

With AESA, engagements are from far greater distances with capabilities against multiple targets, giving the operators a significant tactical advantage. This series of live fire flight tests prove out the radar's air-to-air and air-to-ground targeting capabilities. The AMRAAM engages long-range targets after launch by incorporating targeting data from the APG-79 AESA. During flight the AMRAAM receives updated tracking/ targeting information from the APG-79 AESA radar via data link from the launch aircraft.

The JDAM "Smart Weapon" uses the APG-79 AESA radar to provide precise targeting coordinates. The pilot uses a high resolution SAR (synthetic aperture radar) image to identify the intended target. The target is designated from the image; the target coordinates are passed to the JDAM weapon; the weapon is released and flies under GPS navigation to impact, thus completing the kill chain. Prior to the introduction of the APG-79 radar, it has only been possible for pre-mission planned ground targets to be attacked.

The APG-79 radar is currently in developmental flight testing and initial operational assessment. The program is expected to transition into OPEVAL (operational evaluation) on schedule early next year. The live fire success follows hot on the heels of a recent multi-year contract award worth $580 million with The Boeing Company. The five year production contract for the APG-79 system successfully concluded negotiations for 190 radars from low rate initial production lots 3 and 4 through full rate production lots 1-3.