AN/APG-77

The AN/APG-77 is a multifunction X-band, low probability of intercept radar (LPIR) installed aboard the F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft. The radar was designed and initially built by Westinghouse and Texas Instruments, and production continued with their respective successors Northrop Grumman^[4] and Raytheon after acquisition.

AN/APG-77

AN/APG-77 in the National Electronics Museum
Country of origin	United States
Manufacturer	Westinghouse (acquired by Northrop Grumman), Texas Instruments (acquired by Raytheon)
Introduced	2012[1]
Type	Solid-state active electronically scanned array (AESA)
Frequency	X-band 8–12 GHz (3.7–2.5 cm)[2]
Range	>320 mi (510 km)[3]
Diameter	3 ft (0.91 m)[2]
Azimuth	120°[3]
Power	20 kW peak

It is a solid-state, Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar whose design is based on the AN/APG-66/68/80(V) family of fire control radars.^[2] Composed of 1,956 transmit/receive modules (TRM), each about the size of a gum stick, it can perform a near-instantaneous beam steering (in the order of tens of nanoseconds).^{[citation needed]}

In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the "AN/APG-77" designation represents the 77th design of an Army-Navy airborne electronic device for radar fire-control equipment. The JETDS system is also now used to name all Department of Defense and some NATO electronic systems.

Implementation

The APG-77 was highly appreciated by pilots transitioning from F-15s upon the F-22's introduction in 2005, providing a massive boost in situational awareness.^{[according to whom?]} The APG-77 has an incredibly fast scan time across its 120 degree field of view and could detect aircraft from over 320 mi (510 km) away. The AN/APG-77 system itself exhibits a very low radar cross-section, supporting the F-22's stealthy design.^[3] The AN/APG-77 also features powerful jamming capabilities said to "fry" the electronics of enemy sensors.^[2]

Improvements

The upgraded version of the radar, designated APG-77(V)1, may have even greater range.^{[according to whom?]} Much of the technology developed for the APG-77 was used in developing the AN/APG-81 radar for the F-35 Lightning II, and in turn the technology from the APG-81 was applied upgrading to the APG-77(V)1. The APG-77(V)1 was installed aboard F-22 Raptors from Lot 5 onwards.^[5][4] The (V)1 improved air-to-air performance, full air-to-ground functionality (high-resolution synthetic aperture radar mapping, ground moving target indication and track (GMTI/GMTT), automatic cueing and recognition, combat identification, and many other advanced features.^[4][5][6]