Farnborough 2012 : Raytheon Widens RACR Sales Pitch

In an effort to extend its AESA legacy, Raytheon is now exploring new avenues for the radars, company officials have explained. Some 400 systems have been delivered to date, and Raytheon is looking at international sales for its Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar (RACR) system, as well as future ISR applications that will extend the capability of legacy platforms. RACR is suitable for F-15, F-16, and F/A-18 aircraft.


Mike Garcia, senior manager of F/A-18 business development, told Shephard that the system is perfect for asymmetrical warfare because it is able to scan air and ground targets at once. Because the US is looking away from upgrading its F/A-18 jets, the company is looking towards countries that want to extend the service life of their fleets.

With regards to F/A-18 Hornets he said: ‘We’re in talks with a few customers. It’s an FMS programme and we’re at various stages within the discussions.’ Garcia explained that it is ‘absolutely not’ easy to retrofit legacy aircraft, but argued they had the experience to do it.


‘We’re not coming into this ignorant to the aircraft. There have been various conversations with Hornet customers and we’re optimistic about it.’ He cited Malaysia and Brazil as customers of interest that want to upgrade their Super Hornets, and Raytheon is ‘working with Boeing closely on that’.


‘The new user doesn’t have to pay for the logistics chain,’ Jim Hvizd, VP of international business development, added. ‘He gets all the benefits from the technological aspect of the jet.

‘We have already put those radars on legacy planes and we’re leveraging a common product line. The supply base part of this is important, and in the Asia-Pacific there are many upgrade programmes underway.’


Hvizd said that the Korean FX3 and KF-16 are of interest to Raytheon: ‘We’re working closely with the Korean government and our government here. ‘The other major programme is in Taiwan.’


Singapore, Japan and Australia all have ‘exercises going on’, which shows that the Asia-Pacific has a ‘more aggressive’ acquisition mindset as its militaries need to be able to operate with US forces. Non-traditional ISR is also being considered as a future application for the AESA systems, and ‘pilots use our AESA capabilities to do surveillance and reconnaissance now’, Hvizd explained.

‘The tactical fighter and traditional ISR world is working much more seamlessly together. Now we can share that information electronically from platform to platform.’


Although the ISR and fighter applications have different scan times and operate at different speeds, he said that some countries are already using tactical aircraft to carry out non-traditional ISR.


‘We’re very excited to see these customers moving forward and seeing their decisions,’ he concluded.