AN / APG-68

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The AN / APG-68 ( JETDS designation system) is a radar system for the F-16C / D Fighting Falcon . It is used by the US Corporation Northrop Grumman produced since 1988, were being shipped to 2002 more than 2,900 devices.

description

Since the nose of the F-16 does not offer much space for large radar systems, the APG-68 is a relatively compact radar. Thanks to the extensive use of modern computer and electronic components, it still has the performance of larger models in some areas. The division of the complex into several individual modules (LRUs) simplifies and accelerates the maintenance of the generally reliable radar. Among other things, a planar antenna and two traveling wave tubes are used.

Operating modes

The APG-68 has a total of 25 air-to-air and air-to-ground operating modes . Some selected modes:

variants

AN / APG-68 (V) 1

An EPROM storage system is now used to save costs .

AN / APG-68 (V) 2

Export version of the APG-68.

AN / APG-68 (V) 3

Also an export version, but with improved reliability, more operating modes and more computing capacity.

AN / APG-68 (V) 5

Basic variant for the F-16 Block 50 of the US Air Force. Mainly the reliability and maintainability have been improved. New signal processors have also been integrated.

AN / APG-68 (V) 7

Revised version with new assemblies and slightly increased range. Introduced on the F-16 Block 50/52.

AN / APG-68 (V) 8

Export model of the (V) 7 variant.

AN / APG-68 (V) 9

Current version with extensive combat value increase. The entire signal processing and the antenna system have been extensively modernized and some of them now also use COTS components. Compared to the previous version, the range could be increased by 33% and the SAR resolution improved to 0.6 meters. The fivefold increase in computing capacity and the ten times larger memory are also intended to expand the ECCM capacity. According to the manufacturer, operating costs are said to have been reduced by 25 to 45 percent through further improved reliability. The radar now also enables effective use with new weapons and sensors, such as the JHMCS pilot helmet, the precision-guided glide bombs of the JSOW series, the new AIM-9X , or the Sniper ATP pod.

Technical specifications

  • Weight:
    • APG-68 (V) 1: 172 kg
    • APG-68 (V) 9: 164 kg
  • Volume: 0.13 m 3
  • Antenna dimensions: 480 × 720 mm
  • Frequency range : 8 - 12.5 GHz
  • Radiated power: 5.6 kW (APG-68 (V) 9)
  • Range:
    • Air-air: 296 km (approx. 75 km for an RCS of 1 m²)
    • Air-to-ground: 148 km
  • MTBF :
    • (V) 1 - (V) 4: 160 hours
    • (V) 5 - (V) 8: 264 hours
    • (V) 9: 390 hours
  • MTTR : 30 minutes

literature

  • Jane's Radar and Electronic Warfare Systems , 2003
  • Jane's Avionics , 2003

Web links

Commons : AN / APG-68  - Collection of images, videos and audio files