F-16 Fighting Falcon News

April 11, 2013 (by Lieven Dewitte) - Raytheon announced today its Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar (RACR) has been competitively selected by the Republic of Korea to upgrade the country's KF-16C/D block 52 fleet.
Subject to final definition by the United States Government, Raytheon will deliver 134 active electronically scanned array (AESEA) radar systems with deliveries anticipated to start in late 2016. The scope includes AESA radar development, production of test assets for the system design and development program, and production.

The RACR distills the best of the AESA family into a compact package of advanced multimode capability. Lightweight and powerful, RACR is a formidable force for aircrew survivability and mission success. RACR gives decisive tactical advantages:

• Higher resolution and longer standoff range
• 5 to 10 times more operational availability than MSA radars
• Simultaneous detect, identify and track multiple air and surface targets

After completing development in a record 24 months, a series of flight trials were successfully completed on a U.S. Air Force F-16 at Edwards Air Force, Base, Calif. These demonstration flights highlighted the multirole capabilities RACR can offer for an operational edge, including a range of air-to-air and air-to-surface modes.

Raytheon has demonstrated F-16 platform expertise by delivering mission critical avionics systems including the modular mission computer, electronic warfare systems, and various weapons. This selection adds the F-16 to the family of fighters retrofitted with Raytheon's AESA-based radars (F-15C, F-15E and the F/A-18E/F).

The Republic of Korea selection bolsters Raytheon's AESA radar production base, which has already delivered more than 500 AESA systems worldwide, supporting more than 400,000 operational tactical flight hours, both industry firsts.