IAF Examining Advanced Radar Installation on Fighter Aircraft

Elta’s AESA radar, already sold to several US manufacturers, is among the radars being examined for installation onboard various aircraft, most of which are F-15s


The Israeli Air Force (IAF) is preparing to install new radar systems onboard its aircraft, primarily onboard the F-15 fighters, in order to improve the aircraft’s detection of aerial targets. An assessment of the available market supply is being carried out to make a decision.

A subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Elta produces active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars. However, it is not clear at this stage if the company’s radar will be selected for installation onboard the IAF aircraft. The main reason is that US radars of the same type can be acquired through the use of US defense aid funds. Another reason is that such US-produced radars are already in operational use and are considered more “mature.”

Israel’s defense establishment understands that the acquisition of Elta's radar can advance its global sales, but a decision has yet to be made. In the past, the Israeli Ministry of Defense prevented Elta from making the new radar available for export. This has since changed since several US and global manufacturers have offered similar radars around the world.