Boeing offers Indian air force advanced AESA radar with F-18 fighters

Published: Feb 09, 2007
Source: www.gulfnews.com



Bangalore: After offering to co-produce the F-18 Super Hornet in this country if it wins an Indian Air Force (IAF) order for 126 combat jets, US aerospace major Boeing yesterday upped the ante by committing itself to equipping the aircraft with the latest-generation radar that greatly enhances its capabilities.

And, in keeping with current "Network-centric warfare" doctrine of the Indian Armed Forces, Boeing says the F-18 is more than equipped to put this concept into practice by coordinating operations in the air and on the ground.

"Yes, the aircraft will come with the AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array). The radar is in operation and represents the latest generation of radar technology," Rear Admiral Jeffrey A. Wieringa said at the media briefing during the ongoing Aero India air show.

Wieringa wears the twin hats of deputy assistant secretary of the US Navy and director of the navy's international programmes office.

The AESA radar, according to the official, engages targets at very long ranges, continues to search while tracking many targets and can produce high-resolution maps from long stand-off ranges.continue..