Air Force Completes Installation of Northrop’s SABR Radars on National Guard F-16s

The U.S. Air Force has installed Northrop Grumman’s AN/APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar on 72 F-16 fighter jets owned by the Air National Guard.

AN/APG-83 SABR provides F-16 pilots with advanced radar capabilities and extends the operational effectiveness of the Air National Guard’s fourth-generation jet fighters. The radar installation meets U.S. Northern Command’s Joint Emergent Operation Need for homeland security.

The aircraft with the new radars are stationed at nine Air National Guard bases across the U.S., Northrop said.

Mark Rossi, director of SABR programs at Northrop, said the company is committed to fielding fifth-generation capabilities to help combat sophisticated threats. The company is also pursuing agile software developments that will enhance radar capabilities and ensure that pilots will have a tactical advantage, Rossi shared.

The defense contractor provides the SABR APG-83 active electronically scanned array fire control radar for the F-16 jet. The solution allows pilots to rapidly detect, track and identify more targets at a longer distance. The AESA radar also features a high-resolution, synthetic aperture radar mapping that can work in any weather condition.

Northrop Grumman offers technology and services that support the military in all domains, from space to sea and cyber. It is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, and has multiple offices within and outside the U.S.