Technology Highlight: Radar

From the first American radar to see action in combat to today’s cutting edge active electronically scanned arrays (AESA), Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems has a proud heritage of leadership in radar technology.

radarToday's Radars: AESA

AESA radar is designed to enable the pilot to effectively engage air and ground targets at long range, while also providing outstanding situational awareness. To date, Northrop Grumman has delivered more than 150 AESA systems, and it continues to discover new ways to exploit this powerful technology.

Northrop Grumman Radar Innovation Timeline

1941
The Westinghouse SCR-270 radar becomes operational. The system detected the Japanese warplanes en route to Pearl Harbor, and was the only model to remain in service throughout World War II.

1950
Decca Marine produces the 159, its first marine radar.

1953
The company patents the key technologies for pulse Doppler radar, making possible airborne systems that can detect both stationary and moving targets, determine range, and distinguish targets from background clutter. Pulse Doppler is the basis for all airborne radars in use today.

1967
Westinghouse develops the AN/APQ-120, the world’s first solid state radar.

1977
Westinghouse delivers the first production E-3 AWACS radar, capable of 360’ surveillance of high or low flying aircraft during all kinds of weather and above all kinds of terrain. More than 75 systems have been delivered.

1983
Litton Industries, now part of Electronic Systems, creates the first laser radar used in space as part of the U.S. Department of Defense's Strategic Defense Initiative.

1991
The company is awarded the contract to develop the radar for the F-22 Raptor.

1999
Development begins on the AESA radar for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

2002
First full scale Multirole Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar/IFF antenna. The flexibility of the MESA radar enables an operator to use it in virtually unlimited combinations of surveillance and tracking.

2007
Northrop Grumman and its partners demonstrate the use of AESA modules for data transmission via the Radar Common Data Link (R-CDL), using the radar's fire control transmitter and antenna to perform high-data rate, two-way communications at long ranges. This will allow pilots to relay important combat information to the global information grid (GIG) in seconds.

2007
U.S. Marines select the Ground/Air Task Order Radar to support their expeditionary warfare requirements.

2008
Northrop Grumman conducts successful first flight of new Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR)

Current radar systems by Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems

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Career opportunities in radar at Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems