Originally Posted by LowObservable
GK - Awesome radar. Replaced in F/A-18C/D starting almost 20 years ago. Is it really that good?
Sigh.
It was installed in the AV-8B+ that same "nearly 20 years ago"!!!
It was removed because the Hornets, as a
Fighter/Attack plane, needed the best radar it could have... meaning upgrade to APG-73, to provide better A-A functions.
The Harrier II, as an
Attack plane, didn't need that improved A-A system... and when you actually remember that the plain AV-8Bs (both standard & "night" versions) had NO effective A-G radar (relying instead on primarily optical aiming/ranging systems), then the answer is YES.
It really IS "that good"!
Even being as "old" as it was, and being replaced in the supersonic F/A planes by an improved system, it was a
massive improvement in capability for the Harrier II!!
Is it "that good" now?
Compared to "no multi-mode A-A/A-G radar", yes, it still is very good.
However, neither it, nor the aircraft, are good compared to newer aircraft & radar systems... thus the F-35B.
