AN / APG-63

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The AN / APG-63 is an all-weather, airborne radar designed by Hughes Aircraft (now Raytheon ). It is the onboard radar of the F-15 Eagle , therefore, and is also called "Eyes of the Eagle" (dt. Eyes of the Eagle called). The radar works in the X-band and belongs to the group of Doppler pulse radars and is suitable for both air and ground targets. This means that it can also capture and track small and fast flying targets at all altitudes.

variants

AN / APG-63

When the original version was put into service in 1973, it offered a high degree of automation of various processes for that time and thus relieved the pilot. The range is approx. 160 km. In 1979, the radar with a PSP was ( "Programmable Signal Processor" dt. Programmable signal processor ) fitted, allowing re-programming of the system without the hardware to be replaced had to. Production of the original version ceased in 1986. Up to this point around 1,000 radars have been delivered, some of which are still in service.

AN / APG-70

The APG-70 is a new design of the APG-63 variant to simplify maintenance and increase reliability. Furthermore, new radar modes have been added. In order to reduce costs, parts of the AN / APG-73 (radar of the F / A-18 Hornet ) were also used. A special feature of this radar is the so-called LPI mode. This means something like “low probability of detection” and describes an operating mode in which techniques are used to prevent detection by enemy radar warning systems (RWR). This is achieved, among other things, through the targeted regulation of the transmission power and length as well as through rapid frequency changes. An NCTI mode for identifying aerial targets has also been introduced. The computer system has been extensively modernized, with the new at that time (1980) MIL-STD-1750A - processor has ten times more memory and five times more computing capacity (40 million complex operations per second). In the ground mapping operating mode, the radar reaches a resolution of 2.6 m at a distance of 35 km. The APG-70 was installed on all F-15 C / D / E, but has since been partially replaced by the APG-63 (V) 1.

Technical specifications:

  • Volume: 0.25 m³
  • Weight: 251 kg
  • MTBF : 80 hours
  • Frequency range : 8-12 GHz
  • Range:
    • Air destinations: 185 km
    • Automatic target acquisition: 0.015–18.5 km
    • SAR :> 92 km
  • SAR resolution at 21.4 km: 2.6 m

AN / APG-63 (V) 1

This variant represents a significant further development of the APG-63 design. The upgrade includes a. new transmitters , processors and signal converters . The reliability and ease of maintenance have been further improved. Precautions have also been taken to enable and simplify further upgrades. The first radar was delivered in March 2001, and all 168 planned machines have now been equipped with the system.

AN / APG-63 (V) 2

The APG-63 (V) 2 also includes significant improvements. The core of this upgrade is the changeover to AESA technology , which significantly increases the performance of the radar (details in the corresponding article ). With this upgrade, the F-15 can now deploy the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile with maximum efficiency. The first systems were shipped to the Air Force in December 2000 . The range for a target with an RCS of 1 m² is approx. 145 km.

AN / APG-63 (V) 3

Elevation of the AN / APG-63 (V) 3 radar system

This variant is currently the last stage of development of the APG-63 family. While the APG-63 (V) 2 is based entirely on the components of the (V) 1 variant, apart from the new AESA antenna (diameter: 0.9 m) , a new power supply module has been integrated into the (V) 3 variant, which also reduces the overall weight of the system. In the future, assemblies from the AN / APG-79 , the on-board radar of the F / A-18E / F Super Hornet , are to be adopted. The entire complex weighs 400 kg less than the (V) 1 variant and is 500% more reliable. In addition to the F-15C / D, the F-15SG for Singapore will also be equipped with this radar. The first prototype was delivered by Raytheon in June 2006. As of August 2008, 23 out of 55 F-15C / Ds were equipped with the radar at a unit cost of approximately US $ 9 million.

AN / APG-63 (V) 4

Original name for the AN / APG-82 , which was selected for the F-15E as part of the "Radar Modernization Program" . All American Strike Eagles are to be equipped with this radar, although Boeing initially only received an order for 179 of 223 machines in 2009. The AN / APG-82 should also be installed in the F-15SE Silent Eagle .

AN / APQ-180

This variant is a specialized variant of the APG-70 radar, which was built into the AC-130U Spooky II . The antenna itself has been modified and extended modes for combating ground targets have been integrated.

Web links

Commons : AN / APG-63  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

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