SHAH ALAM: New Radars for Hornets. As you are aware the US Marine Corps is looking to replace the radar of its F/A-18 Hornets with a new active electronically scanned array (AESA) system. The program is needed as the service intends to fly its Hornets – similar to the ones flown by the 18th Squadron – well beyond 2020.
The Marine Corps wants to buy 98 radar sets together with 14 spare sets. Work to replace the current radar – the Raytheon AN/APG-73 radar – is expected to start in late 2020 and ends by 2022. Two candidates are believed to be competing for the program – the Raytheon Advanced Capability Radar (RACR) and the Northrop Grumman Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR).
Northrop Grumman recently performed a test fit of the SABR on a Marine Corps F/A-18C recently.
The fit check, performed August 2 at the request of the Marine Corps, demonstrated SABR is a low-risk option for installation on F/A-18C/D Hornets and that the radar can be integrated with the aircraft’s power, cooling and avionics systems.
“The Marine Corps asked for an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) solution due to the radar’s increase in reliability and sustainability with no decrease in operational performance,” said Greg Simer, vice president, integrated avionics systems, Northrop Grumman. “The Marine Corps’ stated objective is to modify an in-production, fielded AESA while meeting the current size, weight, power and cooling requirements of the F/A-18 C/D. We have proven our production APG-83 SABR radar fits into the F/A-18 C/D, achieving the objectives and bringing the technical maturity needed to attain the Marine Corps fleet insertion timelines.”
The APG-83 is a multifunction AESA fire control radar that delivers fifth-generation fighter capabilities to counter and defeat increasingly sophisticated threats.
Northrop Grumman is competing to replace the mechanically-scanned radar on F/A-18C/Ds with an AESA radar. The Marine Corps plans to upgrade the radar on approximately 100 F/A-18C/Ds. The APG-83 will address survivability, reliability and maintainability concerns for the U.S. Marine Corps.
With RMAF Hornets expected to fly well at least until 2030 perhaps in the near future it should also opt for the same upgrades for the eight aircraft in service and also the Kuwaiti Hornets thats been it is seeking to acquire.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (26)
Beside radar, what else can be consider for future upgrade?
IRST, cockpit display, ESM/ECM, Engine (same with Gripen-E).
For radar, is it possible to upgrade to european makes, like Raven?
Can we upgrade few airframes to have close capacility as Growler?
Reply
We can do whatever ever upgrade we want but it will be more expensive as we will be the only user much like the MKM.
"and also the Kuwaiti Hornets thats been it is seeking to acquire. "
To your knowledge, has Malaysia submitted a request to Kuwait?
@ pok ya
Any upgrades need to consider that it is to be used only up till 2030 (12 more years to go).
- AESA radar
- SATCOM
- new internal jammers, ALQ-214(V)4/5 Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures (IDECM)
- SAAB BOL chaff/flare dispensers (canibalize from raaf hornets)
- towed decoys (ALE-50, as per kuwaiti legacy hornets upgrade)
- new standoff missile KEPD Taurus (as per spain hornets)
Others
- engine. No. Too much changes to be made
- growler. No. Easier to buy Knirti SAP-14 pods for MKM instead. Or get a version of the ASELSAN HAVASOJ dedicated stand off jammer aircraft (this could use the same platform as our future AWACS)
If we can't even properly finance a SLEP for the MKMs (that without replacing engines, FCS, or radar), how do you suppose we can finance this radar replacement?
AFAIK, AESA radar don't come cheap even if piggyback on large order. Furthermore are we going to get the same spec as USMC or a crippled one as usual?
Right now we lack critically in quantity more than quality. I prefer they use whatever money available to get the Kuwaiti Hornets. The radar replacements can wait.
having an improve radar on f18 would sure give us advantage only if we get additional plane from kuwait. if not,do it sufficient and economic wise for it???
off topic-
read this in janes "Malaysia considers mix of manned, unmanned aircraft for maritime surveillance requirements"
does anybody know if this unmanned aircraft is MALE or just simple ScanEagle or its class?i mean does it cost effective to have MALE UAV plus MPA operates maritime surveillance. really hope to see the plan blueprint before any purchase.
I was Thinking that, Should RMAF Planned to Replace PESA into AESA For 18 MKMs ?.
BTW, Im waiting for Kuwait Hornets come to malaysia.
@ joe
Yes the first priority should be to get those kuwaiti hornets.
Then would be upgrades. For just the AESA, for big volumes (100+ aircraft) it is around usd2 million per aircraft (as per taiwan contract), so i dont expect the AESA upgrades for those hornets to cost more than usd5 milion per aircraft.
@ safran
MKM AESA upgrade could be much later (probably post 2030), as the Bars radar still have a good performance and can be further upgraded. Even the irbis-e in the su-35 is a modified PESA Bars radar incorperating many similar hardwares.
joe "Furthermore are we going to get the same spec as USMC or a crippled one as usual?"
Gulf states fly more advanced models of 4th generation aircraft than the US does, for us to upgrade would take us nowhere near those specs and would not be a problem. In any case, no country exports their best.
Lets wait how AESA fared on USMC F/A-18 C/D
Reply
It will be ok
The MPA programme would not be approved. It would be cinsideted only in next plan