F-35 Radar Demonstrated In Alaska

Northrop Grumman said it successfully demonstrated key electronic protection capabilities of the AN/APG-81 radar slated for the F-35 Lightning II during the recent Northern Edge 2009 joint military exercise in Alaska.

The AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar was flown on the company’s BAC 1-11 test aircraft. Northrop Grumman said it demonstrated the electronic protection (EP) capabilities of the radar by successfully countering advanced electronic attacks intended to degrade, neutralize or destroy friendly combat capability.

Northern Edge 2009 was held June 15-26 in Alaska and involved more than 9,000 participants from the United States military services supervised by the Joint Electronic Protection for Air Combat (JEPAC). The exercise integrated a dozen types of fighter and bomber aircraft as well as a naval carrier strike group.

“This event represents a major milestone in electronic protection testing for the AN/APG-81 in an operationally representative environment,” said Teri Marconi, vice president of Combat Avionics for Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems. “We have been able to prove a number of EP capabilities years ahead of normal development timelines.”