EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- During ceremonies held
recently in Australia, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) received the last
F/A-18 Hornet that has been upgraded with the APG-73 radar system. Raytheon
delivered 71 APG-73 radar systems as part of the Hornet Upgrade (HUG) program.
Raytheon's support of the F/A-18 aircraft is set to continue for the next 20
years, assuring the ongoing effectiveness of the Australian squadrons.
In the HUG program, the RAAF F/A-18s have been progressively upgraded to a
standard similar to the U.S. Navy F/A-18C/D. The APG-73, which replaced the
original APG-65 system, gives the RAAF a state-of-the art radar system that
can be upgraded with new software as future threats evolve. Deliveries of the
new fire control radar system began in December 2000.
"This program is a success because of close cooperation between the U.S.
Navy, Boeing, the RAAF and Raytheon," said Troy Nestor, director of Business
Development for the Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems business.
The HUG program marks the first radar upgrade of any international F/A-18
Hornet. The RAAF selected the F/A-18 with its APG-65 radar set in 1981.
"The delivery of this radar demonstrates the success of the HUG program,
as well as Raytheon's ongoing commitment to ensuring that the RAAF's F/A-18s
maintain their needed effectiveness through the next two decades," Nestor
said.
The RAAF is currently contracted with Raytheon Australia for the
maintenance of the APG-65 and APG-73 radar systems. The RAAF is also working
with the U.S. Navy and Raytheon in an APG-73 software co-development program
to develop new tactical software uniquely tailored to meet RAAF requirements.
Two engineers from the Defence Science and Technology Organization (DSTO) in
Adelaide, Australia, are working side by side with Raytheon software
developers in El Segundo, Calif. A third DSTO representative is based at
NAVAIR China Lake, Calif.
The first phase of this software program will conclude later this year
with the release of an Operational Flight Program (OFP-19). Requirements for
phase two have already been defined, and a third phase is currently under
discussion.
Other systems offered by Raytheon to international F/A-18 operators
include: the ASQ-228 Advanced Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared (ATFLIR); the
Shared Reconnaissance Pod (SHARP); the ALE-50 Towed Decoy and other electronic
warfare systems; and the Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW), Paveway, Advanced
Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), and AIM-9M and AIM-9X weapons. In
addition, Raytheon is developing the APG-79 Advanced Electronically Scanned
Array for the F/A-18 Super Hornet, a program currently in flight test.
Raytheon Company's Space and Airborne Systems (SAS) designs, develops and
manufactures advanced systems for precision engagement; missile defense; and
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Headquartered in El Segundo,
Calif., SAS has 11,000 employees and additional facilities in Goleta, Calif.;
Forest, Miss.; Dallas, McKinney and Plano, Texas; and several international
locations.
With headquarters in Lexington, Mass., Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) is a
global technology leader in defense, government and commercial electronics,
and business and special mission aircraft.
Contact:
Pennington Way IV
310.200.3911
SOURCE Raytheon Company
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