AN/APG-68

The AN/APG-68 ( JETDS - name system ) is a radar system for the fighter F- 16C / D Fighting Falcon. It is produced by the U.S. company Northrop Grumman since 1988, with up to 2002 more than 2,900 units have been delivered.

Description

As the nose of the F -16 does not offer much space for large radar systems, it is in the APG -68 is a relatively compact radar. Through the extensive use of modern computer and electronic components, it has in some areas still on the performance of larger models. The breakdown of the complex simplified into several modules (LRU 's) and accelerates the maintenance of the general already reliable radar. There are, among others, a planar antenna and two traveling wave tubes used.

Modes of operation

Overall, the APG 68 has 25 air -to-air and air -to-ground modes. Some selected modes:

  • Range while scan
  • Track while scan ( 10 goals )
  • Velocity search
  • Ground mapping ( with Doppler beam sharpening )
  • Ground moving target indication and tracking
  • Sea mode
  • Air -to -surface ranging

Variants

AN/APG-68 ( V) 1

To save costs now comes a EPROM memory system for use.

AN/APG-68 ( V) 2

Export version of the APG - 68th

AN/APG-68 (V) 3

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

AN/APG-68 (V) 5

Basisvarinte for the F -16 Block 50 of the U.S. Air Force. It has been mainly to improve the reliability and maintainability. Also new signal processors have been integrated.

AN/APG-68 (V) 7

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

AN/APG-68 (V) 8

Export model of (V ) 7 variant.

AN/APG-68 (V) 9

Current version with extensive combat efficiency. All signal processing and antenna system has been extensively modernized and now also used in part COTS components. Compared to the previous version so could the reach increased by 33 % and the SAR resolution can be improved to 0.6 meters. The five-fold to the increased computing capacity and ten times larger memory to expand the ECCM capability. According to the manufacturer, the operating costs should have been lowered by further improved reliability by 25 to 45 percent. The radar now also enables the effective use of 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.

Specifications

  • Weight: APG -68 (V ) 1: 172 kg
  • APG -68 (V) 9: 164 kg
  • Air -to-air: 296 km ( 75 km for a RCS of 1 m²)
  • Air -to-ground: 148 km
  • (V ) 1 - ( V ) 4: 160 hours
  • (V) 5 - ( v) 8: 264 hours
  • (V ) 9: 390 hours
Joint Electronics Type Designation System Radar engineering details Commercial off-the-shelf Electronic Counter Counter Measures Electromagnetic spectrum Mean time to recovery
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