Northrop Delivers 500th AESA Radar for F-35 fighter

Northrop Grumman has delivered its 500th AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar for the F-35 Lightning II.

The AN/APG-81 radar has long-range active and passive air-to-air and air-to-ground modes that support different missions. These modes are complemented by an array of stealth features as well as electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance functions, the company said in a statement Thursday.

The AN/APG-81 is a successor radar to the F-22's AN/APG-77. Over three thousand AN/APG-81 AESA radars are expected to be ordered for the F-35, with production to run beyond 2035, according to reports.

In addition to producing the AN/APG-81 radar, the company manufactures the center fuselage and wing skins for the aircraft, produces and maintains several sensor systems, avionics, mission systems and mission-planning software, pilot and maintainer training systems courseware, electronic warfare simulation test capability, and low-observable technologies.