Key Points and Summary – Raytheon unveiled the APG-82(V)X AESA radar for the F-15EX at the Air, Space & Cyber Conference, promising more range, target capacity, and survivability.
-Building on the aging APG-82(V)1, the new set leverages gallium nitride to run hotter and more powerful within the Eagle’s existing frame.
The F-15EX, the Air Force’s newest fighter aircraft, arrives to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida March 11. The aircraft will be the first Air Force aircraft to be tested and fielded from beginning to end through combined developmental and operational tests. The 40th Flight Test Squadron and the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron personnel are responsible for testing the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. Karissa Rodriguez)
-Low-probability-of-intercept modes shuffle frequencies to reduce detectability, while tight pairing with the EPAWSS electronic-warfare suite aims to let Eagle II push closer to contested airspace—jamming, spoofing, and feeding data to stealthy F-22s/F-35s.
-Though not stealth, the F-15EX’s payload and new sensors position it as the fleet’s “muscle.”
-The APG-82(V)X is in development and being pitched to U.S. and foreign operators.
Raytheon’s New APG-82(V)X Radar Supercharges F-15EX Eagle II
Raytheon has announced the latest upgrade for America’s F-15EX Eagle II.
The new radar known as the APG-82(V)X was unveiled at the Air, Space & Cyber Conference in Maryland this week, the system promises to give the Air Force’s newest Eagles more punch, more resilience, and a better chance of surviving against evolving threats from Russia and China.
The new radar builds on the existing APG-82(V)1, which has served on F-15E Strike Eagles and F-15EX jets for years.
That older system is still solid, but it’s aging fast, with parts harder to source and technology that reflects a different era.
Raytheon argues that the V(X) model is a major development due to its use of gallium nitride technology which permits hotter and more powerful radar upgrades within an existing aircraft frame.
This radar is able to track a higher number of targets, has longer vision, and is thus better equipped to utilize long-range weapons.
The F-15EX Needs All the Help It Can Get
The F-15EX is not a stealth aircraft, and that’s a problem when adversaries are fielding more capable sensors of their own.
To help bridge that gap, the APG-82(V)X adds low probability of intercept (LPI) features, making it much harder for enemy forces to detect when the jet is scanning.
Instead of broadcasting in the same bands adversaries are trained to look for, the radar can change frequencies, bypass signals, and generally make itself a moving target on the electromagnetic spectrum.
A Big Deal
Raytheon is also keen to point out how neatly the new radar pairs with the Eagle Passive/Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS), an advanced electronic warfare suite already slated for the F-15EX.
Combined, the two systems mean the Eagle II will not just sit at the edge of a fight firing missiles, and could be capable of pushing toward contested airspace and jamming and spoofing sensors.
Why Is the F-15EX Eagle Flying if No Stealth?
These may be fourth-generation fighters, but the Air Force is doubling down on keeping the Eagle line going.
These jets may be ageing but their payload capacities remain unmatched and they can be fitted with fresh electronics to aid the nimbler F-22s and F-35s.
In practice, the F-15EX could act as the “muscle” behind America’s fighter fleet, hauling more missiles and feeding superior data to its 5th-generation cousins.
The APG-82(V)X is yet to fly and remains in development in California. However, Raytheon is already pitching it to both the U.S. and foreign operators as the Eagle’s future radar. If it performs as advertised, it will help ensure that a fighter first flown in the 1970s continues to play a part in the likely tense decades ahead.
About the Author: Georgia Gilholy
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education. You can follow her on X: @llggeorgia.
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