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| The F-16 Fighting Falcons Fighter Jets |
Washington - The active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar has officially been integrated into more than 70 F-16 Fighting Falcons fighter jets in 12 US Air National Guard units. This radar will later assist F-16 pilots in detecting, targeting, identifying, and engaging across the threat spectrum at longer distances.
Not only that, AESA can also strengthen F-16s to carry out their homeland defense missions while staying ahead of almost the same threats. Quoted from Military Leak, the addition of the F-16 equipment arsenal was commemorated at a ceremony held at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael Trujillo said the AESA-equipped F-16s were assigned to the DCANG 113rd Wing, which is the first unit in the Air Force to receive this upgraded capability. I have the ability to target up to two tracks, that's all.
For information, it is the unit in charge of the air defense of the national capital area. "It's not without a lot of manpower, without a lot of advocacy, and without a lot of people saying 'I don't have any more money to spend on an old F-16,'" said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh, director of the Air National Guard, which served as an F-16 pilot in the regular Air Force and ANG.
The incorporation of the AESA radar into the F-16 is the result of an agreement from the defense industry, Congress, the US Air Force, to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The application of this technology is thought to be able to revitalize old aircraft and efficiently integrate them into current generation assets.
Since the F-16's first upgrade to an AESA radar in January 2020, the 113rd Wing has increased its effectiveness for its missions, including NCR defence. As is well known, the previous APG-68 F-16 fire control radar had near zero capability against cruise missiles. This means that the AESA radar provides new capabilities for older aircraft.
This acquisition of the AESA radar also stands as testament to the combined efforts to ensure the United States' national security needs. The latest suite of AESA radar capabilities modernizes and capitalizes on the ANG legacy F-16 fleet, marking its arrival to the next generation of fighter and air power.
Quoted from Bliley Technology, AESA has also become an advanced and critical electronic warfare system in terms of military superiority. Compared to PESA (passive electronically scanned array), AESA which was developed in the 1980s has many advantages. Instead of using a single transmitter/receiver module, AESA uses multiple transmitter/receiver modules linked to antenna elements and can produce multiple simultaneous radar beams at different frequencies.
AESA Radar Capability
- Real block mapping
- Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Mapping
- Sea level search
- Ground movement target indication and tracking
- Air-to-air search and tracking.
One of the main advantages of this AESA system is its resistance to electronic jamming techniques. For information, this radar jamming is a condition in which the same frequency is sent to the enemy's radar frequency to confuse it. If AESA can withstand this radar jamming, then it is possible that AESA will also make it easier for fighter jets to fight their enemies.
Currently, the AESA system has been used on many military platforms including military aircraft or drones. As one of the ancient systems still in use, of course integrating the AESA radar into the F-16 is a major breakthrough that can maintain the age of the fighter jet.