The firm have revealed LONGBOW performance improvements over land and water test ranges.
Northrop Grumman Corporation and Lockheed Martin have announced the successful completion of the US Army’s AH-64E Apache Follow-On Test and Evaluation II (FOT&E II) for the AN/APG-78 LONGBOW Fire Control Radar.
According to a news release
“During the FOT&E, the modernized LONGBOW FCR successfully demonstrated many new operational modes and capabilities, including maritime, single target track, and 360-degree surveillance mode, as well as extended detection range capability against land, air and sea targets. The detection range has doubled and improved detection of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Validating these performance enhancements during FOT&E, the LONGBOW radar successfully detected numerous ground and maritime targets at extended detection ranges. Those targets were then engaged and destroyed by AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile missiles fired from the Apache helicopter.”
Susan Bruce, LONGBOW LLC vice president and vice president at Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, said:
“Our open systems architecture approach allowed us to unlock phenomenal performance without any hardware changes. Version six is a major update to LONGBOW’s capabilities providing significant situational awareness and targeting capabilities to the warfighter.”
The LONGBOW radar provides Apache aircrews with automatic target detection, location, classification and prioritisation, while enabling multi-target engagement in all weather conditions, over multiple types of terrain and through battlefield obstacles, say Northrop Grumman.
To date, nearly 500 LONGBOW systems have been delivered to the U.S. Army, British Army and other operators of the aircraft.
Interesting that they have stated effort placed into improved over water capability, marinised Apache would be a distinct force multiplier