AESA radars have been a game-changer for fighter jets, changing how they perform air superiority, ground attack, and reconnaissance missions.
Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars are a significant advancement in radar technology, especially when paired with modern fighter jets. AESA radars are a type of phased array radar, where the radar beam is steered electronically, rather than mechanically, using an array of many hundreds or thousands of small transmitter/receiver (T/R) models, each of which can independently transmit and receive radio frequency signals. The radar is capable of steering its beam rapidly across space without physically moving its antenna. AESA radars are a substantial upgrade over mechanical radars, or passive electronically scanned arrays (PESA), where a single transmitter feeds multiple elements, resulting in limited flexibility and speed.
AESA Radars Are Easier to Maintain
One of the primary benefits of AESA radars is their agility. Due to how the radar’s beam redirects in a fraction of a second, AESA-equipped aircraft can scan large volumes of airspace far more quickly and accurately than older radar systems. Such capability enhances the pilot’s situational awareness and affords him the ability to track multiple targets simultaneously. AESA radars are capable of tracking multiple enemy aircraft, mapping ground targets, conducting electronic warfare, jamming or spoofing, and communicating within a network of allied forces—all at the same time.
Despite the sophistication of the AESA system, it is easier to maintain and far more reliable when compared to older radar systems. The use of numerous T/R modules provides the AESA system with redundancy, which allows it to function effectively even if a few T/R modules fail.
The AESA systems are also less susceptible to enemy detection or jamming because of their ability to operate across a wide range of frequencies and shift between frequencies rapidly. The feature known as frequency agility makes it especially hard for adversaries to lock onto or jam the AESA’s radar signal.
AESA Radars Are Versatile
AESA radars have been a game-changer for fighter jets, changing how they perform air superiority, ground attack, and reconnaissance missions. In air-to-air engagements, the AESA radar’s high-resolution tracking and long-range detection allow pilots to pick up enemy threats before being detected themselves, often yielding a decisive advantage in beyond-visual-range (BVR) encounters. AESA radars also allow fighters such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II to use their radars to track dozens of targets simultaneously and cue missiles with precision. A lone aircraft can engage multiple targets or share tracking data with allied platforms.
In air-to-ground missions, AESA radars are similarly transformative, allowing for high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery that enables precise targeting of fixed and/or moving ground targets even through obscuring weather or camouflage. The result is that AESA-equipped fighters can function as all-weather, day/night strike platforms.
Lastly, in terms of electronic warfare and operating in contested airspace, the multifunctional nature of AESA radars provides modern aircraft with the electronic attack capabilities needed to survive the modern battlefield. Some AESA systems can perform electronic jamming or deception against enemy radars—effectively doubling as an electronic warfare suite, and reducing the need for separate jamming pods, which lowers weight and drag on an aircraft while improving stealth.
In conclusion, the AESA radar is a game-changer, representing a technical leap and a force multiplier for modern fighter aircraft. The rapid beam steering, multimode functionality, high reliability, and resistance to jamming make AESA radars invaluable to individual aircraft performance and overall integrated air combat operations.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a Senior Defense and National Security Writer at The National Interest. Kass is an attorney and former political candidate who joined the US Air Force as a pilot trainee before being medically discharged. He focuses on military strategy, aerospace, and global security affairs. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global Journalism and International Relations from NYU.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
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