Boeing

The Boeing Company has selected Raytheon Company, headquartered in Lexington, Mass., to develop an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The announcement follows the completion of a competitive evaluation that began in September 1999.

The work will be performed by Raytheon's Electronic Systems unit in El Segundo, Calif.

"Boeing has been working with Northrop Grumman and Raytheon for several months. Both companies submitted extremely strong proposals. In the final analysis, the decision was one of best overall value to the F/A-18 program," noted Jerry Daniels, Boeing vice president for U.S. Navy and Marine Corps programs.

The addition of an AESA radar will improve the survivability, capability and lethality of the Super Hornet. Specifically, an AESA will increase the aircraft's air-to-air target detection range and tracking range; add higher resolution air-to-ground mapping modes at longer ranges, enabling the aircraft to take full advantage of current and planned weapons; improve situational awareness in the cockpit; and significantly lower operating and support costs.

Under an Advance Agreement between Boeing and the U.S. Navy, Boeing and its subcontractor Raytheon will develop an integrated AESA radar prototype. The next step would be a Navy contract award, expected in early 2001, for engineering and manufacturing development. If the contract is awarded, deliveries of AESAs would begin in 2004.