On Tuesday, September 17, the U.S. Department of Defense announced a new contract awarded to Northrop Grumman for the production of additional APG-83 AESA radars to equip the U.S. Air Force’s F-16s as part of their modernization to the Block 70 configuration. This represents a further investment following a purchase reported in March 2023 for similar radars for part of its fleet of 608 F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft.
Specifically, Northrop Grumman will receive an additional $16,740,876, bringing the total funding for the program to $1,633,087,075. According to the Pentagon’s official statement, the acquired radars are expected to be delivered by 2031, with production taking place at Northrop Grumman’s facilities in Maryland.
It is important to note that the modifications for the F-16s not only include the installation of the new APG-83 radar but also encompass a list of 21 additional changes based on the current Legacy designs. The U.S. Air Force aims to completely upgrade its existing fleet rather than incorporate new F-16 Block 70 aircraft, enhancing their capabilities for modern combat environments.
Additionally, the selection of the APG-83 AESA system extends to other U.S. aircraft platforms undergoing upgrades. For example, the U.S. Marine Corps, which operates F/A-18C Hornets, has also joined the list of future users of this radar system. Meanwhile, the F-22 and F-35 fighters utilize earlier versions, specifically the APG-77 and APG-81 radars, from which Northrop Grumman has developed the new systems to be installed in the F-16s and F/A-18s.
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