Advanced APG-82 Radar Upgrade for F-15: Enhancements & Benefits

Skinner Radar Shelby L. Skinner Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University MAVM 615 1

Executive Summary The upgrade to the APG-82 package increases the capability of the F-15 while extending the life of the aircraft. The legacy of this aircraft and its capabilities make this low-risk solution essential for future upgrades. The APG-82 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar can simultaneously detect, identify, and track multiple air and surface targets at greater distances ( AN/APG-82(V)1 AESA radar . 2023) . The improvement from the APG-70 to the APG- 82 will improve reliability twenty times more than the current package. Factors that improve the APG-82 over the APG-70 or the APG-63 include the X-band for higher imaging resolution (APG-82, 2023). This is currently only on the F-15 Eagle. This will be a plug-and-play system meaning that the parts can be removed and replaced easily for the operator. 2

Company Overview Company Summary : This is an upgrade to the APG-70 for the F15 Aircraft. Depending on the version of F15 depends on the requirements or the modifications required. The goal of this MRO is to reduce production time, manning, and repair time. Station supportability and future upgrades need to be configured based on the average length of time for shelf-life. Mission Statement : Providing tomorrow’s technology today. Marketing and Products : The APG-82 is the pathway to the next wave of aircraft to protect and serve the different countries. Depending on the countries needs the APG-82 can be modified to support their different aircraft in a plug-and-play situation. Management Team : The F-15 technicians with a group of engineers so that the product is maintainer friendly. This will allow the technicians to have less difficulty with the tooling and equipment. For example, the APG-70 antenna has frustrated technicians with tight specifications within the equipment that the changing of gaskets from the black transporting gaskets to the orange pressure sustaining gaskets would cause failures. If these gaskets were not swapped from black to orange, there would be significant hydraulic fluid leaks. With a management team of all the Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) the APG-82 will surpass all predecessors. President : Founder of company. Developed design of initial product. Manages Supervisors to ensure proper communication between Engineers and Technicians. 3

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Supervisor of Engineers : Lead engineer, prior expert of APG-70 radar package from Raytheon. Supervisor of Technicians : Maintained, repaired, and overhauled APG-63V3 and APG-70 radar packages. The supervisor is determined to maximize a radar package that is easy to maintain. (Skinner al et, 2023). This person will guide engineers and technicians on how to improve and create easier, more cost-effective processes for different levels of technicians that will be maintaining equipment. Locations and Facilities : Facilities located on AFMC bases working along side the military. Locations include Eglin AFB, Florida, Robins AFB, Georgia, and Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. 4

Product Description The APG-82 is an advanced radar package to upgrade airborne radar to accommodate the modern version of the F-15. As aircraft and technology advance reducing the hours of troubleshooting at the aircraft is essential. While the radar package was developed to keep the peace if needed during war capabilities, being able to troubleshoot and isolate faults at the aircraft will be essential to time. Opportunity: The market for the APG-82 can be utilized for defense programs both foreign and domestic. This product can be expanded to other aircraft aiding in different recovery missions. Product overview : Comprised of four assets: Antenna, power supply, transmitter, and receiver. This system is universal between the F15, F16, and F18 this system is a plug-and-play to aid flightline maintenance, reducing aircraft downtime. The APG-82 is easy to troubleshoot and to isolate failures making it the most efficient radar package to date. The maintenance will initially be done at two levels then once military members are trained then there will be 3 levels of maintenance. Key Participants : The key participants are the different military branches, both foreign and domestic. The Air Force, Navy, and the military supply system (DLA) are three of the main partners for distribution and communication. Pricing: Price of purchase of system and 3 test stations $3.2 Billion with 4-year warranty 5

Training cost: $100k Test station upgrade from manual self-test to automatic self-test $20K each Maintenance technical data orders will explain what chemicals, tools, hardware, and software will be used. This manual will be followed with no exceptions. Any deviations to the manual will need to be approved by the engineers before technicians can utilize them. If deviation is more beneficial to the production of the unit deviation will be considered and a possible change to the technical order will be processed. These orders are not a guide but a requirement to follow any unapproved deviation will be in violation the warranty. Reducing production time: the current repair time for APG-70 is approximately 48 hours, 22 hours if there are no issues and assets run through testing the first time. 6

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Marketing Analysis Within the market, Boeing, Raytheon, and Lockheed Martin are all major contenders in the Aviation Industry. Industry Type : Aeronautical Industry Market Segmentation: In the Aviation Industry if you don’t stand out then you are not the best. A company needs the lowest bid while still making costs. SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) Within the aeronautical industry each company fights to get to the finish line first. Each company bids for the contract and strives to be the best. Skinner Radar’s strength is that we have personnel that have worked and understand the other companies. While Skinner Radar is younger and newer to the aviation world understanding the ins and outs of the equipment that will be utilized is essential to move to the future and not stick in the past. This gives Skinner Radar the opportunity to shine above the rest. With the trio of Boeing, Raytheon, and Lockheed teaming up Skinner Radar; it will stand strong and stand out above the rest. Knowledge is important to the success of the APG-82 future. SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) 7

Operating Plan 8

Marketing and Sales Plan 9

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Financial Plan (Projected Start-Up Costs ONLY) 10

7.401 Acquisition considerations . 7.401 Acquisition considerations. | Acquisition.GOV. (n.d.). https://www.acquisition.gov/far/7.401?searchTerms=%22maintenance+repair%22 This section of the federal acquisition regulations which is required when creating contracts determine what can and cannot be done. If a company has done their due diligence to the contract, it will be defined in each portion. The first section is knowing what the considerations are. Then as you continue into the other subparts of Section 7 there will be more data to review. This is a part of my paper as you must know the acquisition regulations before finalizing a contract. AN/APG-82(V)1 AESA radar . RTX. (2023). https://www.rtx.com/raytheon/what-we- do/air/apg82v1 The APG-82 is used on the F-15 Eagle (F-15E) uses the AESA radar to deliver enhanced multi-target tracking, system reliability, and precision engagement capabilities. This utilizes assets from the APG-79 and the APG-63v3 radar systems. This system is a low risk and cost- effective solution for extending the lifespan of the F-15E. This source is the maker of the current RADAR package and is also the company training my counterparts and myself on how to run the new system. APG-82 (2023) . The Future of Air Dominance. (n.d.). https://thefutureofairdominance.com/fighters/f-15/f-15_apg-82/f-15_apg-82_detail/ This site is purely for the photo of the APG-82 to utilize in my paper. The only things this page talks about are the plug-in-play capabilities and two of the parts that are included in the APG-82 package. Isby, D. C. (2017, April 27). Upgrading America’s F-15E Strike Eagles . Key Aero. https://www.key.aero/article/upgrading-americas-f-15e-strike-eagles This article depicts the history of the F-15E showing it is currently 35 years old and is expected to live until at least 2045. This article shows the competition between the countries for the radar packages. Another thing this article shows is that upgrades and modifications are still being made to increase the longevity of the F-15 aircraft. Keller, J. (2021, June 23). Raytheon to build and upgrade AN/APG-82 AESA airborne radar for modern versions of the F-15 Jet Fighter . Military Aerospace. https://www.militaryaerospace.com/sensors/article/14204976/radar-upgrades-f15 This article from 2021 talks about the cost of the contract being $3.1 billion dollars. The reason why I am utilizing this article is that it explains multiple things that can used when I am trying to figure out this paper. This talks about the F-15EX as well as the Navy aircraft that utilize the system. This shows the products similar to the APG-82 and which countries other than 11

the United States that are using the actively electronically scanning array (AESA). This is the future technology of war aircraft. Having an upgraded electronic warfare (EW) system is vital and utilizing less assets to have that system means less troubleshooting. This also means that the aircraft will be able to fly more and take less time for repairs (hopefully) King, S. (2011, January 24). F-15E flies with new radar system . Air Force. https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/114356/f-15e-flies-with-new-radar- system/#:~:text=The%20APG%2D82%20uses%20active,the%20nose%20of%20the %20aircraft . While this is an older article, this announces when the APG-82 system came out which is a good source for showing where it started vs where the test package is today. This article can be used to show that the new radar system is considered a plug-in-play according to Lieutenant Meier. The article states how the reliability of the new system increased 20-fold from the previous system. Lake, J. (2022, May 10). Airborne AESA fighter radars . Armada International. https://www.armadainternational.com/2022/05/airborne-aesa-fighter-radars/ Understanding who made the product will guide someone back to the blueprints if needed. Since Raytheon is over the APG-82 program one wouldn’t think that they need to contact Northrop Grumman. However, Northrop Grumman designed the X-Band array that is used in the radar package. Northrop Grumman developed the AESA from using data that Lockheed Martian used for building the Block 60 for the F-16E/F models for the United Arab Emirates. Everyone need to work together for a cohesive asset. At the same time, it is understanding your competition for the contracts and who can make a more efficient product. The Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation. (2015). F-15E Radar Modernization Program (RMP) - director, operational test ... https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2014/af/2014f-15e_rmp.pdf?ver=2019- 08-22-110544-313 This site is about the upgrade for the RMP on the F15-E. This talks about the changes that were occurring. Like with most of these sites you need to know where you have been before you know where you are going. The Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation. (2023). FY 2022 annual report – F- 15EX Eagle II. https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2022/af/2022f- 15ex.pdf?ver=eqd5_BDV6yL3ERM6mEiYfQ%3d%3d This report talks about the missions the F-15EX was expected to preform in Fiscal Year 2022. With the knowledge of how much the aircraft is expected to fly, where the aircraft is expected to fly, and who is maintaining the aircraft parts can be modified to accommodate the stress level induced on the aircraft. This report talks about contractors, the mission, the system, the performance, and even the program itself. 12

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Skinner, S., & Wilhite, W. (2023, October 27). MRO Data Retrieval. personal. We discussed personal experiences within our jobs. Mr. Wilhite is an acquisition program specialist, and I am a F-15 Electronics Technician actively working on the different APG-63, APG-70, and APG-82 packages in my work center. Understanding how to improve my units can make it easier in the future as the workload increases. Knowing where we can go for different data and what exactly we are utilizing every aspect of the test equipment. As a maintainer, the thought that this will take less time to repair and potentially be easier to troubleshoot while on the line at the aircraft is great. This has approximately the same repair time at the DEPOT level as the APG-70 but there are less parts to troubleshoot on the APG-82 package. Trimble, S. (2023, May 22). The weekly debrief: F/A-50 pushes gallium nitride radars into mainstream . Aviation Week Network. https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/sensors- electronic-warfare/weekly-debrief-fa-50-pushes-gallium-nitride-radars Defining AESA as Active Electronically Scanned Array this article goes into detail how South Korea would be getting their own version in 2025 for the F/A-50. This article talks about the competition and the different types of radar packages as well as who as them. For example, Thales RBE2 entered service in 2013. This article will help examine strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of the AESA for the APG-82. Wolff, Dipl.-Ing. (FH) C. (n.d.). Card index of radar sets - airborne radars . Radartutorial. https://www.radartutorial.eu/19.kartei/08.airborne/karte008.en.html This site talks about the old radar packages. Knowing where we came from and where we are headed is essential to prevent making the same mistakes. We aim to produce better products that can hopefully hold a longer lifespan to be utilized the life of the F-15E. This article talks about the barest information of the APG-70 package but this is where I acquired the picture to utilize in my paper. 13

References 7.401 Acquisition considerations . 7.401 Acquisition considerations. | Acquisition.GOV. (n.d.). https://www.acquisition.gov/far/7.401?searchTerms=%22maintenance+repair%22 AN/APG-82(V)1 AESA radar . RTX. (2023). https://www.rtx.com/raytheon/what-we- do/air/apg82v1 APG-82 . The Future of Air Dominance. (n.d.). https://thefutureofairdominance.com/fighters/f- 15/f-15_apg-82/f-15_apg-82_detail/ F-15 Sustainment. (2020). In MENA Report. SyndiGate Media Inc. Isby, D. C. (2017, April 27). Upgrading America’s F-15E Strike Eagles . Key Aero. https://www.key.aero/article/upgrading-americas-f-15e-strike-eagles Keller, J. (2021, June 23). Raytheon to build and upgrade AN/APG-82 AESA airborne radar for modern versions of the F-15 Jet Fighter . Military Aerospace. https://www.militaryaerospace.com/sensors/article/14204976/radar-upgrades-f15 King, S. (2011, January 24). F-15E flies with new radar system . Air Force. https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/114356/f-15e-flies-with-new-radar- system/#:~:text=The%20APG%2D82%20uses%20active,the%20nose%20of%20the %20aircraft. Lake, J. (2022, May 10). Airborne AESA fighter radars . Armada International. https://www.armadainternational.com/2022/05/airborne-aesa-fighter-radars/ 14

Raytheon Awarded $202.6 Million Air Force Contract. (2020). In Targeted News Service. Targeted News Service. Skinner, S., & Wilhite, W. (2023, October 27). MRO Data Retrieval. personal. Trimble, S. (2023, May 22). The weekly debrief: F/A-50 pushes gallium nitride radars into mainstream . Aviation Week Network. https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/sensors- electronic-warfare/weekly-debrief-fa-50-pushes-gallium-nitride-radars Wolff, Dipl.-Ing. (FH) C. (n.d.). Card index of radar sets - airborne radars . Radartutorial. https://www.radartutorial.eu/19.kartei/08.airborne/karte008.en.html Zacks Equity Research. (2020). Zacks Investment Research: Raytheon Technologies Wins $203M Deal to Support F-15 Aircraft. In Newstex Finance & Accounting Blogs. Newstex. 15

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Figures 16

17 The APG-70 package was used on the F-15E model. While the APG-82 package is in the new aircraft. In front you have the antenna while inside on the middle layer you have the transmitter. These hold their positions in the new radar system. Some of the Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) change position while others no longer exist. Another change is there are less cables that need to be connected.

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Shelby Skinner, MAVM 615 4.3

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