El SEGUNDO, Calif., Sept. 13, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) next-generation APG-63(V)3 Active Electronically Scanned Array radar is now installed on the first U.S. Air Force F-15C aircraft following a series of successful flight tests.

"This is another successful milestone reached by working with our Boeing partners to bring our customers a built-in growth path and long-term mission support," said Steve Schwarzkopf, F-15 program director for Tactical Airborne Systems. "The APG-63(V)3 radar provides advanced technology that F-15 pilots can rely on."

Boeing and the U.S. Air Force recently completed installation and acceptance testing at Langley Air Force Base, Va., and will transition the aircraft to Kadena Air Base, Japan, and Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., in the third quarter of 2010. Under the current contract, the Air National Guard will upgrade 14 F-15C/D aircraft, and the U.S. Air Force will upgrade 10 F-15C/D aircraft with the APG-63(V)3 AESA radar.

"The fielded APG-63(V)3 air-to-air capabilities put the F-15C/D in a class by itself and ensure that the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard F-15C/D fleets remain capable, maintainable and affordable," said Todd Burns, Boeing F-15C AESA program manager. "The addition of the APG-63(V)3 ensures that these aircraft continue their multirole missions both at home and abroad, protecting the warfighter and demonstrating our commitment to meeting and exceeding customer requirements."

The Raytheon APG-63(V)3 AESA radar pairs operationally proven APG-63(V)2 software with the advanced APG-79 transmit-receive hardware found on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. This upgrade brings a robust and affordable high-performance AESA to the F-15C air-to-air variant.

Raytheon Company, with 2009 sales of $25 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 88 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 75,000 people worldwide.

SOURCE Raytheon Company