Raytheon, a division of RTX, has completed flight testing of an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), designed to enhance threat detection and situational awareness for fourth-generation aircraft.
The new system, known as the Cognitive Algorithm Deployment System (CADS), integrates AI and machine learning (ML) to improve the speed and accuracy of radar warning capabilities. The system was tested on Raytheon’s flight test aircraft and later on an F-16 at the Air National Guard’s test range in Tucson, Arizona.
CADS is designed to modernise existing radar warning receivers by incorporating Deepwave Digital’s computing stack and a new Embedded Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). This upgrade enables real-time data processing at the sensor level, allowing the system to analyse and classify potential threats with increased efficiency.
According to Raytheon, the system can process large amounts of information with minimal delay, providing aircrew with faster threat identification and prioritisation. The company states that CADS enables greater survivability for pilots by improving reaction times and reducing cognitive workload in complex operational environments.
The system underwent its first flight test on an F-16 in December 2024, following initial evaluations on Raytheon’s own aircraft. The testing incorporated AI/ML techniques developed in collaboration with the Georgia Tech Research Institute, Vadum, Inc., and Raytheon’s cognitive electronic warfare team.
Raytheon expects CADS to be introduced into operational platforms starting in early 2025, with the potential for deployment across various fourth-generation aircraft, such as the F-16 and F/A-18.
The testing of AI-driven radar warning receivers reflects a wider shift in electronic warfare strategy, with an increasing focus on automation and data-driven threat analysis. The integration of AI into existing RWR systems aligns with broader efforts to modernise UK, US, and allied air forces, enhancing their ability to detect and counter emerging threats.
