AN/APG-77 explained

AN/APG-77
Manufacturer:Westinghouse (acquired by Northrop Grumman), Texas Instruments (acquired by Raytheon)
Country:United States
Type:Solid-state active electronically scanned array (AESA)
Azimuth:120°
Power:20 kW peak[1]

The AN/APG-77 is a multifunction low probability of intercept radar installed on the F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft. The radar was designed and initially built by Westinghouse and Texas Instruments, and production continued with their respective successors Northrop Grumman and Raytheon after acquisition.

It is a solid-state, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. Composed of 1,956 transmit/receive modules (TRM), each about the size of a gum stick, it can perform a near-instantaneous beam steering (in the order of tens of nanoseconds).[2]

The APG-77 was highly appreciated by pilots transitioning from F-15s upon the F-22's introduction in 2005, providing a massive boost in situational awareness. The APG-77 has an incredibly fast scan time across its 120 degree field of view and could detect aircraft from over 320 mi (515 km) away. The AN/APG-77 system itself exhibits a very low radar cross-section, supporting the F-22's stealthy design.[3] The upgraded APG-77(V)1 may have an even greater range. Much of the technology developed for the APG-77 was used in the AN/APG-81 radar for the F-35 Lightning II, and in turn the technology from the APG-81 was applied to the upgraded APG-77(V)1.

The APG-77(V)1 was installed on F-22 Raptors from Lot 5 and on.[4] This provided improved air-to-air performance, full air-to-ground functionality (high-resolution synthetic aperture radar mapping, ground moving target indication and track (GMTI/GMTT), automatic cueing and recognition, combat identification, and many other advanced features).[5] [6]

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Forecast International: Intelligence Center.
  2. Web site: Future DoD Airborne High-Frequency Radar Needs/Resources . April 2001 . Department of Defense . 19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120920222300/http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports/ADA391893.pdf . 2012-09-20.
  3. Web site: Hoffman . Carl . November 2005 . The Raptor Arrives . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220122034247/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/the-raptor-arrives-6953408/ . January 22, 2022 . December 3, 2023 . Air and Space Magazine.
  4. Web site: F-22 Raptor To Get Upgraded Radar . Defense Update . 2 April 2007 . 2016-11-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161122220431/https://defense-update.com/newscast/0407/news_020407.htm#raptor . 2016-11-22 . dead.
  5. Web site: APG-77(V) .
  6. Web site: Northrop Successfully Completes F-22 Radar Flight-Test Certification . 2009-07-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090802172752/http://www.air-attack.com/news/article/2418/Northrop-Successfully-Completes-F-22-Radar-Flight-Test-Certification.html . 2009-08-02 . dead .