Northrop Grumman demonstrated the capability to generate high-resolution, in-flight synthetic aperture radar (SAR) maps using the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar being produced for the U.S. Air Force's F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft, the company said this week. The test flights are the first phase of a planned multi-year contract with Boeing to incorporate SAR capability into the F-22s fleet in support of future air-to-ground requirements. “The flight tests, on board a company BAC 1-11 test bed aircraft, have proved that the F-22 fighter's mission capabilities have expanded to include directly identifying and targeting enemy ground defenses and mobile forces,'' said Teri Marconi, vice president of Combat Avionics Systems at Northrop Grumman.