Ross Wilkers
Northrop Grumman has developed an aperture system and an active electronically scanned array radar for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 jet, the company announced Wednesday.
During a recent test, Northrop demonstrated ballistic missile detection, tracking and targeting with the Distributed Aperture System and the APG-81 radar.
The company made small modifications to software on the DAS and the F-35 prior to the test, said Jeff Leavitt, vice president of the combat avionic systems business unit.
According to the company, the DAS and the radar targeted five ballistic rockets beyond the second stage burnout.
NASA and the U.S. Air Force also participated in the test, which occurred onboard the company’s BAC1-11 testbed aircraft.
