Lockheed will be prime integrator for the upgrade, but the USAF will conduct a separate competition for the AESA, says Joe Ensor, vice president and general manager of Northrop’s intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting systems division.

Although the incumbent radar supplier on the F-16 , Northrop and its SABR will face competition from the Raytheon Advanced Capability Radar (RACR). “It will be a government source selection. We are awaiting a draft request for proposals,” says Ensor.

Beyond the F-16 market , the U.S. Navy has around 100 Block I F/A-18E/F Super Hornets that are candidates for a radar upgrade . Earlier F/A-18s operated domestically and internationally are also possibilities for AESA retrofits.

The Air Force is upgrading its F-15Es and some F-15Cs with Raytheon AESAs, but some older aircraft and F-15s operated by international customers remain candidates for radar retrofits.