B-2 Bombers to Receive New Active Array Radar

Raytheon Company has been awarded a $22 million contract initiating the B-2 radar Pathfinder program. This is the first phase of a multiyear program that will retrofit the B-2 Bomber fleet with a new Ku Band active array radar antenna. Raytheon will perform as the primary subcontractor to Northrop Grumman Corporation.

"This contract is the culmination of an extraordinary team effort between Raytheon, Northrop Grumman and the Air Force," said Jack Kelble, president of Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems business. "Raytheon is gratified to be upgrading the radar we developed for the B-2 with a new active array." During this contracting phase, Raytheon will perform preliminary engineering design for a Ku Band Active Electronically Scanned Antenna (AESA) for the B-2 fleet. This initial phase extends to June of 2003.

The effort on the B-2 radar upgrade began last year with a study contract defining two alternatives the government could pursue to change the radar operating frequency while remaining within the existing frequency band. The U.S. Air Force stated it chose the AESA option because of the inherent reliability and growth potential it offered.

Raytheon has produced airborne radar for most of the US tactical fighters and bombers, including the AN/APQ-181 radar on the B-2. Raytheon produced the first operational airborne AESA, which is in operation in a squadron of F-15s in Alaska. The next-generation AESA, Raytheon's APG-79 for the F/A-18, is scheduled for flight test in June 2003. Raytheon is also adapting AESA technology to surveillance and reconnaissance platforms and unmanned combat aerial vehicles.

FMI: www.raytheon.com