Raytheon starts deliveries of PhantomStrike radar for FA-50s
The antenna of a PhantomStrike 600 Series radar model on display at ADEX 2025, Seoul. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal)
Raytheon (RTX) has launched deliveries of its PhantomStrike active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for installation on the FA-50 light attack aircraft. The contract covers 100 radars, an RTX spokesperson told Janes.
The delivery of the first PhantomStrike radar to KAI was announced during the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2025 in South Korea on 20 October. According to the RTX spokesperson, KAI is procuring the 100 radars through a Direct Commercial Sale (DCS) contract that was signed in March 2023.
The PhantomStrike is a low size, weight, and power (SWaP) AESA radar that is capable of performing multiple functions simultaneously, such as air-to-air and air-to-ground surveillance, target acquisition, and electronic warfare (EW) support. The US government has approved the PhantomStrike for export as a DCS product.
The sale will allow the radar to be installed on a majority of the 48 FA-50s ordered by Poland. “The sale to KAI includes Poland as an end-user for 36 PhantomStrike radar systems,” the RTX spokesperson said.
According to Raytheon, the PhantomStrike is a fully air-cooled system, employing gallium nitride (GaN) for long-range threat detection, tracking, and targeting. The system also employs digital beam-forming and steering, a digital receiver/exciter, and a processor called Chirp.
The company described the PhantomStrike as being “nearly half” the price of “a typical fire-control radar” while possessing a “more agile digital beam, advanced target detection, and resistance to jamming”.
Janes
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