AN/APY-9

AN/APY-9. It is an advanced ultra high frequency airborne early warning and control radar system developed by Northrop Grumman for the United States Navy. The system is the primary sensor for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, providing enhanced surveillance capabilities against modern threats including stealth aircraft and cruise missiles. Its introduction marked a significant technological leap in carrier strike group air defense and battle management.

Overview

The system represents the next generation in the E-2 Hawkeye's long lineage of airborne early warning radars, succeeding the AN/APS-145. Its primary mission is to provide an unblinking eye for the U.S. Navy's carrier air wing, offering critical situational awareness over vast ocean areas. Operating from the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, it integrates data with other assets like the Aegis Combat System and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet via the Cooperative Engagement Capability. This network-centric functionality is central to the Navy Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air concept, enabling extended-range engagements.

Development and design

Development was led by Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector, with key work conducted in Melbourne, Florida and Baltimore, Maryland. The program emerged from the Advanced Hawkeye initiative to counter evolving threats identified after the Cold War. A core design feature is its advanced UHF electronically scanned array, which provides superior detection performance against low-observable targets compared to higher-frequency systems like those on the Boeing E-3 Sentry. The radar incorporates sophisticated space-time adaptive processing algorithms to suppress clutter and electronic countermeasures, allowing it to track small targets over land and sea.

Operational history

The radar achieved initial operational capability with Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 125 in 2014, deploying aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). It has since been deployed globally with United States Fleet Forces Command and United States Pacific Fleet units, participating in major exercises like Rim of the Pacific and operations in the Persian Gulf and South China Sea. International operators include the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, which fields the E-2D, and the French Navy, which has selected the system for its future E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Its performance was notably demonstrated during the interception of Russian Air Force aircraft near Alaska.

Technical specifications

Operating in the UHF band (approximately 300 MHz to 1 GHz), the system uses a rotodome-mounted, electronically scanned array to provide 360-degree coverage. It features an active electronically scanned array with solid-state electronics, offering greater reliability than previous mechanically scanned systems. Key capabilities include simultaneous air and surface track, enhanced over-land detection, and resistance to jamming. The system is integrated with the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye's glass cockpit, tactical operator stations, and the AN/USG-3 cooperative engagement processor.

Variants and upgrades

The primary platform is the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, with the radar system being a defining component of that aircraft's Block I configuration. Subsequent upgrade programs, such as the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Delta System Software Configuration builds, have focused on improving radar software processing, electronic protection, and integration with the Battle Management Command and Control network. Future developments under the Advanced Radar Processing Suite program aim to further enhance tracking capacity and computational power. While designed for the E-2 Hawkeye, the radar's technology has informed other Northrop Grumman projects, including studies for unmanned aerial vehicle applications. Category:Radar