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function to supplement the Super Hor-nets IDECM (integrated defense elec-

tronic countermeasures) suite.The first LRIP radar was delivered

for flight testing in January 2005, withfull-rate production approved in July2007. The Navys current plans havethe APG-79 equipping more than 500Super Hornets, including EA-18GGrowler electronic attack aircraft, butthis number could easily rise. In early2011, Boeing and the Navy markeddelivery of the 500th Super Hornet tothe services tactical aircraft fleet. InMarch 2011, Raytheon delivered the

250th APG-79 to Boeing. In February2012, Raytheon reported that its man-ufacturing facility in Forest, Missis-sippi, was producing up to six radarsa month, and is capable of doublingthat rate. Total APG-79 program costscould reach or exceed $6 billion.

In February 2012, reports indicatedRaytheon had been in discussions

with Singapore about AESA radar up-grades for its air forces F-16C/Ds.

Raytheon supplied APG-63(V)3 AESAradars for Singapores F-15SG.

Northrop/Raytheon duopolyPreceding the APG-79 was RaytheonsAN/APG-63(V)2 AESA, produced inlimited numbers for USAF F-15Cs andarguably the first fighter AESA radar(Japans F-2 J/APG-1 also claims thathonor). With major production pro-grams today for the F-15C/D, F-15E,and Super Hornet, Raytheon has beenthe market leader since last decade, at

least in terms of numbers. But with JSFalone, Northrop Grumman will soonsurpass Raytheon in funding value,ramping up to a potentially dominantposition by the end of this decade.

Even if Raytheon wins the bulk offuture F-16 AESA upgrades, we do notsee how this situation could change.Available funding could grow some-

The APG-79 AESA was developed for the NavyF/A-18E/F.

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what if F-16 costs are greater than an-ticipated, but Northrop will likely winat least half of future F-16 funding, ifonly because it has built all 2,500+ ofthe APG-68s to be upgraded.

David R. Rockwell

drockwell@tealgroup.com