The installation of the APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) on a fleet of 72 fighters F-16 of the United States National Guard was completed recently in the U.S.

The APG-83 “Scalable Agile Beam Radar” radars are designed by Northrop Grumman Corporation.

The installation of new radars increases fightersnoperational viability and reliability, providing pilots with 5th generation fighter radar capabilities.

The new radar with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) allows faster tracking, detection, and identification of more targets.

Such targets, for example, include air-to-air and air-to-surface targets, air defense radars and longer-range air-to-surface missiles.

In addition, SABR’s all-weather high-resolution synthesized aperture radar mapping produces a better surface image than previous systems, allowing for more accurate guidance.

“The completion of these deliveries highlights Northrop Grumman’s continued commitment to rapidly field 5th generation radar capability to the fleet to counter and defeat increasingly sophisticated threats to our nation and its allies,” said Mark Rossi, SABR Program Director, Northrop Grumman.

This upgrade is a response to the operational need of US Northern Command to modernize the country’s defense against cruise missiles.

American officials regularly point to Russian and Chinese efforts to develop and implement improved cruise missiles.

The previous radar F-16 had almost zero capabilities against cruise missiles.

“If money were not the decisive factor, we would equip them with all aircraft just because it has great capabilities and is much more reliable,” said Lieutenant Colonel Trujillo.

Installing SABR radars is arguably the simplest but most effective update that at least part of the F-16 fleet should now receive.