AN/APG-83 SABR
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Got to read an article last night while on duty about the up-grade of the radar for the Vipers called the AN/APG 83 SABR. The NG squadron around DC have already made the switch which takes around a day and a half. Pull out the old 68 and slide in the 83. Not a lot of technical info in the article but it did mention an increase in the ability to track/target more than 2 at a time with improvement in jamming resistance. Also mentioned the probability that part of the up-grade was a replacement of the center console below the ICP with a larger MFD (?) screen used by the IDF. Supposed to be a huge improvement in radar capability for the Viper. Could be a nice addition to BMS.
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@Tboneeodusmc Hi, there. The USMC has also experimented with the -83 in their Legacy Hornets. https://theaviationgeekclub.com/apg-83-integrated-onto-usmc-f-a-18c/ I’d love to see AESA in BMS but I don’t think it will be modeled any time soon. Whenever it been brought up in the past the issue seemed to be the lack of enough data to model it properly.
As for your cockpit display, they may actually be doable for a good cockpit builder with hard code access. -
@Tboneeodusmc said:…takes around a day and a half. Could be a nice addition to BMS.
And - as you said - the coders could bang that out in a day and a half.
So - we can have this implemented by next Monday, whilst we await U1.
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@drtbkj - the USMC isn’t getting the SABR. It was discussed for a while, and then SABR was eliminated at down-select. They’re getting something else -
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/raytheon-to-upgrade-usmc-hornets-with-new-aesa-radar
But frankly, they SHOULD be getting Super Hornets…those USMC A+ jets are OLD, and tired.
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There are several videos on YouTube about it. And there’s a video showcasing the F-35’s (probably a test bed) radar finding and tracking 20-something airborne targets in only hand full of seconds.
That video would be good a starting point for any possible capability in BMS (maybe someday who knows) the new SABRE radar has. The kicker is that these radars can generate high resolution SAR maps while it continues to search and track airborne targets.
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@Stevie said in AN/APG-83 SABR:
@drtbkj - the USMC isn’t getting the SABR. It was discussed for a while, and then SABR was eliminated at down-select. They’re getting something else -
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/raytheon-to-upgrade-usmc-hornets-with-new-aesa-radar
But frankly, they SHOULD be getting Super Hornets…those USMC A+ jets are OLD, and tired.
It makes sense to get the 79, with 90% commonality.
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@Stevie -Biggest problem the USMC has is budget money. Since they fall under the Dept. of USN they usually have to make do with what they’ve got. Add in the budget cuts of previous administrations, which made things even worse, and with the added bonus of those who believe the USMC should be completely decarded, they have to make do with what they have. Look how long they utilized the F-4, A-4, A-6, CH-46; hell they didn’t retire their last C-117 (C-47) until 1981 (could’ve been 82). I agree about upgrading to the Super Hornet, which may still happen if the F-35 doesn’t fulfill expectations. They have a habit of regrouping and retooling.
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@Tboneeodusmc - actually, the biggest problem the USMC have is their dogged refusal to give up the Legacy Hornets in order to retain the ability to fire rockets to mark targets. In this day and age there are more and better ways to do that than to fire WP and talk-on. And better weapons available to employ.
They should have been in Super Hornets with the rest of the Fleet a long time ago, or at least standing ready to make the move into Block 3 Supers. The savings in Maintenance/Logistics costs alone would justify.
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@Stevie - USMC has a history of always starting off behind the times. WW2 main rifle 1903 Springfield, main fighter Brewster Buffalo at the start. They were authorized 1,167 aircraft in 1939 but on 12/09/1941 had 230. Marines didn’t get the M1 Garand until they utilized a supply they found on the beach at Guadalcanal. WW2 ended and there was then talk of disbanding the Marines and the SecDef attempted to transfer all aviation assets to newly created USAF and others. Korea wasn’t much separation time between wars so ground weapons were from late WW2 but main fighter was the F9F Panther and still used F4U Corsair for CAS up until 1953 with the added plus of helicopters being utilized in combat. After Korea there was more support from the SecNav and weapon improvements actually caught up but procurement still was controlled by the DepNavy. Marines replaced the F-4, A-4, and A-6 with the F/A-18, brought on the MV-22 to replace older helicopters, and upgraded the rest to keep down costs. They are hoping the F-35’s will replace the F/A-18, AV-8B, and EA-6B but again the budget will determine where they go forward. Hell it’s actually something we’re kind of proud of, we complain about the old stuff, but still get the job done. Improvise, Overcome, Adapt.
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@Tboneeodusmc - lots of holes in this analysis…starting with readiness rates for F-35Bs, from what I’ve heard around the campfire. I also might have though that the Harriers would be out of service by now…but they aren’t, and in fact surplus parts are being bought from the RAF in order to keep them flying - wings, last I heard.
Yes - the USMC has a tendency to get the left overs, but in the case of the Super Hornets, that wasn’t the case…they’ve just been flat out refusing them. The USN has already taken the A-D out of frontline service, and I’m not even sure how many are still flying in the Reserves, really. The Marines need to re-arm.