Washington, October 5, 2025 (Agencies): RTX’s Raytheon has introduced a new version of its APG-82 radar for Boeing’s F-15EX fighter jet, promising a significant boost in detection range and electronic warfare capabilities without requiring additional power. The enhanced system, dubbed APG-82(V)X, was unveiled at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference in mid-September.
The radar incorporates advanced gallium nitride (GaN) technology, enabling greater range, faster target tracking, and expanded air-to-air, air-to-ground, and electronic warfare functions. A Raytheon spokesperson said the sensor “detects and tracks more rapidly and engages with multi-function fire control and EW capabilities,” giving pilots better situational awareness and decision-making speed in contested environments.
Unlike traditional gallium arsenide (GaAs) components, GaN supports higher voltages and produces less heat, allowing for a denser array of transmit-receive (TR) modules without increasing weight or power demand. An Air Force official noted that extending detection range is increasingly critical, as “range of weapons is becoming the key currency” in modern air-to-air competition against evolving adversary capabilities.
The APG-82(V)X is an active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar with thousands of TR modules, enabling rapid switching between transmission and detection. Its signals can identify and range targets, spoof hostile radars, and jam communications, providing what Raytheon’s Advanced Products and Solutions president Dan Theisen described as a “first-look, first-shoot advantage” for F-15EX pilots.
The new radar will pair with faster processors that can exploit its improved sensitivity, hop frequencies more quickly, and reduce the probability of enemy intercept. Crucially, the (V)X model fits into the same internal space as the current APG-82(V)1, simplifying upgrades across the fleet. This is particularly important for the non-stealth F-15EX, which relies on long-range detection and engagement to counter modern threats.
The radar’s unveiling coincided with Raytheon announcing a new distance record for firing an AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile from an F-15EX. Although the exact range remains classified, the company described the increase as “significant.”
The APG-82(V)X builds on the current radar used in F-15E and F-15EX aircraft and is being developed in El Segundo, California, with production planned for Forest, Mississippi. Raytheon said the radar will be exportable to international F-15EX customers, including Indonesia, which is pursuing 24 jets; Israel, which has expressed interest in the F-15IA variant; and Poland, which has signaled potential acquisition plans.
Raytheon emphasized that the new system is “scalable” and designed with open-architecture standards, allowing future upgrades and cross-platform integration. An Air Force official added that the (V)X could resolve looming supply chain problems with the older (V)1 model, which uses increasingly scarce components after 15 years of service.
The upgrade reflects growing U.S. Air Force emphasis on long-range sensing, electronic warfare integration, and rapid adaptability to counter advanced aerial threats without the need for new airframes.