US military aircraft fire-control radar
TheAN/APG-68radar is a long range[1]pulse-Doppler radar designed byWestinghouse (nowNorthrop Grumman) to replace theAN/APG-66radar in theGeneral Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. The AN/APG-68 radar was itself to be replaced beginning in early 2022[update] onUS Air ForceF-16C/D Fighting Falcon Block 40/42 and 50/52 by theAN/APG-83AESA radar.[3][4]
In accordance with theJoint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the "AN/APG-68" designation represents the 68th design of an Army-Navy airborne electronic device forradarfire-control equipment. The JETDS system also now is used to name allDepartment of Defense and someNATOelectronic systems.
The AN/APG-68 is an improvement to the AN/APG-66 used on the F-16A/B.[5] The AN/APG-68(V)8 and earlier versions of the radar system consists of the followingline-replaceable units:
The AN/APG-68(V)9[6] version consists of the followingline-replaceable units:
- Antenna
- Medium Duty Transmitter (MDT)
- Modular Receiver/Exciter (MoRE)
- Common Radar Processor (CoRP)
The APG-68(V)9 is the latest development of the radar. Besides the increase in scan range compared to the previous version, it has asynthetic aperture radar (SAR) capability.
The APG-68(V)9 has equipped several exported F-16 variants, including theEgyptian Air Force,[7]Israeli Air Force,[8]Chilean Air Force,Republic of Singapore Air Force,[9]Turkish Air Force,[10]Royal Moroccan Air Force,[11]Greek Air Force,[citation needed]Pakistan Air Force,Polish Air Force,[citation needed]Royal Thai Air Force,[12] andIndonesian Air Force.[13]
- Frequency: Starting Envelope frequency around 9.86 GHz (3.04 cm)
- Under AIS Testing as high as 26 GHz (1.2 cm)
- Max Detection Range : 50 mi (80 km)[1]
- Search cone: 120 × 120 degrees
- Azimuth angular coverage: ±10 degrees / ±30 degrees / ±60 degrees
- Programmable Signal Processor (PSP) - The core radar component which is responsible for signal processing, frequency selection, signal digitization for B-Scope display. The PSP is controlled through the F-16 Heads Down Display Set (HDDS) or what is commonly called theMulti-Function Displays (MFDs). The PSP is directed by the system operational flight program (OFP), which is controlled and modified for new threats or addition radar system requirements. The PSP also contains all the control circuitry for radarair-to-air missiles andair-to-ground weaponry operational scan patterns and SAR/ISAR operation.
- Modular Low Powered Radio Frequency (MLPRF) - Thesignal generator for the radar system. Frequency generation is dependent on the random frequency selection from the radar tables within the PSP upon system start-up. The MLPRF generates a small amount of RF Drive, which is sent to the Dual Mode Transmitter (DMT), where it is amplified and a small RF sample is sent to the MLPRF for comparisonchecksum (like a check and balance system). The MLPRF is also responsible for receiving radar returns, generating the RF injection noise (for RF discrimination), and the processed RF within the MLPRF is then later sent to the PSP for video processing and threat/target matching against the radar threat tables within the PSP, prior to flightcrew system display.
- Dual Mode Transmitter (DMT) - A 24,000volt radar transmitter, containing aTWT, which generates the amplified RF to be sent to the radar antenna for system emission. The TWT operates by optical pulses received from the DMT's internal Pulse Decker Unit and TWT Cathode/Anode voltage inputs.
- Antenna - Aplanar array antenna, which is constructed to receive RF data through awaveguide system. The transmitted and received pulses are controlled in time by the PMW (Pulse Modulated Wave) radar design, and the waveguideduplexer assembly. Internal to the antenna are Uniphaser Assemblies (used for quadrature phase control), Phase Shifters (used of quadrature I/Q data) andgimbalized motor control for antenna positioning and position correction.
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