Raytheon has been selected to be the radar supplier for the B-52 bomber radar modernization program by the Boeing Company, Raytheon announced on Thursday.
Raytheon will design, develop, produce and sustain active electronically scanned array radar systems for the entire U.S. Air Force B-52 fleet under the contract. The advanced radar upgrade will ensure the aircraft remains mission ready through 2050 and beyond. Low rate initial production is scheduled to begin in 2024.
“When it comes to years spent flying in support of our nation’s defense,” said Eric Ditmars, vice president of Raytheon Secure Sensor Solutions. “Our new AESA radars give aircrews the eyes they need to achieve their mission for the duration of the B-52’s service life,” Ditmars added.
Raytheon’s AESA radar offers greater reliability than the current system because it has no moving parts and uses modern operating software. With an AESA radar on board, the B-52 will gain improved navigation reliability to support nuclear and conventional missions.
It will also benefit from improved mapping and detection range and an increase in the number of targets it can simultaneously engage, along with improved capabilities that help crews see further and more accurately.
About RaytheonÂ
Raytheon Company, with 2018 sales of $27 billion and 67,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 97 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I products and services, sensing, effects and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries.
