BAE orders Raytheon advanced combat radar for South Korean KF-16 modernisation

Raytheon has been awarded a contract to support the upgrade of the Republic of Korea Air Force's (ROKAF) KF-16C/D Block 52 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft fleet.

Raytheon has been awarded a contract to support the upgrade of the Republic of Korea Air Force’s (ROKAF) KF-16C/D Block 52 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft fleet. Awarded by BAE Systems, the contract covers supply of an integrated solution comprising Raytheon advanced combat radar (RACR), ALR-69A all-digital radar warning receiver, and advanced mission computing technology and weapon systems integration for the 130 KF-16C/D Block 52 fleet. Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems International Strategy and Business Development vice-president Jim Hvizd said the competitive selection of RACR by South Korea last year gave the company an important foothold in the international F-16 upgrade market. "The addition of our EW and mission computing expertise and our weapon systems integration will provide the Republic of Korea with an operationally superior solution that will keep their KF-16s relevant for years to come," Hvizd said.

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South Korea’s defense budget is currently valued at $48.3 billion after experiencing impressive and robust annual growth of 10.5% in 2022. Over the forecast period, South Korean defense expenditure is anticipated to register a strong CAGR of 6.3% over 2023-27 and reach $66.2 billion by 2027. The country’s acquisition budget, which includes research and development (R&D) funding, is also anticipated to register significant growth, projected to reach $21.6 billion in 2027, seeing significant rise from the anticipated $17 billion in 2023. South Korean defense spending is continuing to be fueled by the country’s hostile relationship with North Korea, coupled with the need to develop its own domestic industry. If you want to strategize successfully off this growing market, it is important to be fully informed. This report’s key findings include:

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"The competitive selection of RACR by South Korea last year gave the company an important foothold in the international F-16 upgrade market."

Apart from making South Korea the first international customer for F-16 RACR radar, the contract also adds the aircraft to an inventory of fighters retrofitted with Raytheon active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, such as F-15C, F-15E, F/A-18E/F and the EA-18G Growler. Already built and test-flown on the F-16, the RACR is a compact, lightweight and scalable radar designed to enable pilots to simultaneously detect, identify and track multiple air and surface targets in the battlefield. The contract’s value and additional details, including delivery schedule, remain undisclosed. Powered by F100-PW-229 engines, the KF-16 is a Korean version of the combat proven F-16 fighter, and was built by Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) under license from its manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, in the 1990s.

Image: Two ROKAF KF-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft take off from Kunsan Air Base in South Korea. Photo: courtesy of USAF senior airman Gustavo Gonzalez.