Boeing Awarded $70 Million Contract for Enhanced F-15C Radar

ST. LOUIS.- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a $70 million contract to begin upgrading U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard F-15C Eagles with the APG-63(V)3 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. The upgrades will begin in first quarter 2009.

The Raytheon APG-63(V)3 AESA radar combines the operationally-proven APG-63(V)2 AESA software and the revolutionary hardware advances of the F/A 18E/F Super Hornet’s APG-79 AESA radar to create a high performance system that is reliable and affordable.

“The AESA radar greatly improves the Eagle pilot’s situational awareness, targeting range and accuracy,” said Jim Means, director of Proprietary Programs for Boeing Global Strike Systems.

The AESA radar will ensure the F-15Cs continue their combat-proven air supremacy well into the 21st century. The AESA radar also will reduce the cost of maintaining the F-15C due to its improved reliability.

The APG-63(V)3 radar is the latest addition in planned upgrades to the F-15C, which have included a fighter-to-fighter data link, GPS navigation and the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System, enabling network centric operations while employing the latest air-to-air weapons.