AN/APG-66

A Fighter Pilot's Radar

A Perfect Complement to
the F-16 Fighting Falcon
High performance, mulfimode radar
Head-up, hands-on operation
Long range, all-aspect detection
Low target false alarm rate
Good inherent raid resolution
Comprehensive ECCM
High resolution ground mapping
Quick, easy maintenance
Low cost
Consistent operational reliability

This material has been cleared for public release in

accordance with DOD regulations.

A Fighter Pilot's Radar

To see in bad weather... to search beyond visual
range... the APG - 66 Radar helps the F-16
pilot detect... track... and destroy. Designed
in harmony with the F-16 avionics system, this
radar provides easy one-man operation. It
allows the pilot to keep a head-up, hands-on
posture, thereby giving maximum attention to
the target. It's truly a fighter pilot's radar.
The Westinghouse APG-66 Radar is a coherent,
multi-mode digital fire control sensor designed
to complement the air superiority and strike roles
of the F-16 Multimission Fighter. Smaller, lighter,
and less expensive than previous fighter radars,

it provides all-weather air-to-air and air-toground modes with superior dogfight and
weapon delivery capabilities. It enhances mission success by detecting and tracking targets
at all aspects and all altitudes in spite of the
presence of ground clutter.
The APG-66 has proven its performance,
reliability, and maintainability during extensive
USAF operational testing and deployment. All
performance requirements have been met or
exceeded and the consistency of the radar's
operation has elicited praise from pilots. Long
range detection capability, high speed multimode automatic acquisition, smooth and precise target tracking and high resolution ground
mapping are some of the key features that

together with unexcelled aerodynamic features

and overall system capability, make the F-16the
best fighter in the world.
Over 800 APG-66 radars have been produced.
High reliability and automatic fault isolation
minimize total life cycle cost. Reliability exceeded
70 hours MTBF in the second year of USAF
operational use. (Based on Westinghouse field
data gathered at Hill AFB in accordance with
AFM66-1.)
In addition to the United States Air Force, the
radar is operational with numerous other free
world Air Forces.

Air-To-Air Capability
In the air-to-air role, the APG-66 provides all
aspect, all altitude coverage in the following
modes of operation.
Downlook for search and track below or
above the horizon.
Four Air Combat Maneuvering (ACM) modes
for automatic target acquisition in various
dogfight engagements.
Uplook for search above the horizon.
Modes are selected by the pilot on the throttle.
side stick controller, and radar control panel,
or the aircraft's fire control computer can automatically select a radar mode appropriate to the
tactical situation.

Auto-acquisition in ACM is manually selected

by a single switch on the throttle grip which
immediately configures the entire weapon
system for a dogfight engagement. In search,
the pilot can switch ranges with the cursor control or with the range scale switch. In track, range
scale switching is performed automatically.
The pilot's desire for constant head - up visual
search is thereby preserved to the maximum
extent possible.
For most air-to-air scenarios, use of the medium
PRF Downlook waveform is tactically preferred.
Range resolution and accuracy are excellent
and insensitivity to target maneuvers guarantees a genuine all aspect capability with
consistent tracking performance.

Downlook

Inherent Situation Awareness

Downlook, the primary mode in air-to-air operation, is a medium PRF pulse doppler search and
track mode which provides target detection and
acquisition even in the presence of clutter. All
airborne targets, including those flying close to
the ground, are presented on a clutter free display. Principal design features include a very low
false alarm rate of less than two per minute and
head-on or tail-on detection of fighter size
targets at more than 30 nautical miles.

The use of a high peak power transmitter and

advanced digital signal processing provides
inherent high-range resolution for the discrimination of multiple airborne targets. This superior
target sorting capability allows the fighter pilot
to more accurately assess an enemy air order
of battle prior to engagement and is one of the
key features that distinguishes the APG-66 from
other fighter radars.

Track Display

Range Scale
Mode
Target Altitude
4,000 Feet MSL
Horizon Line
Target Symbol (Track)
Target Data Block
Target's Ground Track
Target's CAS
Aspect Angle for Intercept
Closure Rate

Search Display

Dogfight 20 x 20"

Dogfight

Uplook

For the close - in fight, the pilot need only depress

the "DOGFIGHT" switch on the throttle. As he
continues to press the attack, all his efforts can
be directed to maneuvering his aircraft since this
single head-up action automatically reconfigures the fire control system. In this mode, the
radar will scan the 20 x 20 HUD field of view
and automatically lock on to the first target it
detects within 10 nautical miles.
When the engagement involves a high-G
maneuver in which the target is ahead in the turn,
10 x 40 ACM is available. Once ACM has
been entered depressing the RETURN TO
SEARCH switch on the side stick controller
extends the antenna's vertical scan coverage
to allow target acquisition.

Uplook is a low-PRF search mode that increases

the radar's detection range capability by 33% in
a medium or high altitude clutter free environment.

Dogfight 10 x 40

Boresight ACM

Uplook

Slewable ACM

Boresight ACM

Slewable ACM

The pencil beam pattern of Boresight ACM is

particularly useful in acquiring a specific target
within a target cluster. To enter Boresight from
any other ACM mode, the pilot depresses the
Designate button on the side stick controller.
He can move his aircraft nose through the
formation to the desired target and then release
the Designator button. The narrow beam will
automatically acquire and track the intended
aircraft.

Entered from any ACM mode by depressing the

Cursor Control Button on the throttle grip, this
mode offers the pilot a significant tactical advan tage when either making a stern conversion or
maneuvering in the vertical plane. In an example,
two cospeed aircraft are approaching head on
with 1600 knots of closure. If both aircraft pull up
into the vertical with 8 sustained g's as they pass,
then both can generate turn rates in excess of 10
degrees per second. Given equal HUD fields of
view, the slewable ACM mode gives the pilot a
lock-on opportunity at 40 degrees prior to being
within the aggressor's field of view. This affords
the pilot as much as four seconds of critical
advantage.

Air-To-Surface Capability
When the mission demands precision navigation
and accurate weapons delivery, radar ground
modes provide an added dimension for success. The total integration of aircraft, radar, and
fire control computer consistently demonstrates
outstanding results during air-to-surface
bombing.
The pilot has available seven air-to-surface
modes of radar operation.

Air-to-Ground Ranging
Real Beam Ground Map
Expanded Real Beam Map
Doppler Beam Sharpening
Beacon
Sea Surface Search
Freeze

Air-To-Ground Ranging (AGR)

Real Beam Ground Map

The AGR mode provides precision slant range

measurement to a designated point on the
ground. It is automatically selected when the pilot
commands the appropriate weapon delivery
modes.

The real beam mapping mode provides the pilot

with an all-weather, drift and velocity stabilized
map of the ground area ahead of his aircraft. Its
PPI (Plan Position Indicator) map display is
selectable in ranges of 10,20,40 and 80 nmi and
scan widths of + 10, + 30, and + 60 degrees. This
ground map can be used for navigation fix taking
using recognizable landmarks, for detection
and location of ground targets, and for direct and
offset weapon delivery.

Air-To-Ground Ranging (AGR)

Real Beam Ground Map

Expanded Real Beam Map

Expanded Real Beam Map

Doppler Beam Sharpening

This mode provides a 4:1 map expansion

centered about the tracking cursors for each
range scale. This feature is available in Ground
Map, Beacon, SEA 1, SEA 2, and Freeze. In the
Expand mode, the cursors are centered on the
display and the map is stationary. If the cursor
slew switch is utilized, the map will move on the
display under the fixed, centered cursors. The
expanded patch can be selected from anywhere
within the scan and range limits of the radar. The
pilot can utilize this feature to facilitate cursor
placement upon the point of interest.

The pilot can select the Doppler Beam Sharpen ing (DBS) mode when the target is displayed on
either the Ground Map (GM) 10 or 20 nautical
mile range scales. At these ranges, 2.5 and 5 nmi
square patches are respectively displayed. The
display format is identical to the Expand mode.
Improved azimuth resolution of 8:1 over the
Expand mode is available at angles between 15
and 60 degrees off the velocity vector of the aircraft. At angles within 15 degrees of the velocity
vector where integration time does not permit
superior DBS resolution, the map display resolu -

Doppler Beam Sharpening

tion gracefully reverts to the normal GM

resolution. This mode, currently most useful
for offset radar bombing and navigation updates,
will also give future off-boresight weapons
the improved resolution required for precise
launch data.

Accurate Weapons Delivery

Continuously Computed
Impact Point (CCIP) Delivery

The integrated avionics system in the F-16

provides excellent weapons delivery capabilities.
Whether a target must be attacked visually or by
radar bombing, the APG-66 can lead an aircraft
to a target area or pinpoint an exact location.

In the CCIP delivery mode, radar air-to-ground

ranging is utilized for determining the aircraft's
height above the target.

Visual Bombing CEP< 65 ft

Lake

Dam

Radar Provides
Slant Range Target

Visually Align Target

Ground Track

"Pop-Up" for Visual Target

Acquisition

Dive Toss Delivery

The fire control computer uses radar AGR
data to compute target elevation in the Dive
Toss mode.

Fire Control System Provides HeadUp Steering for Reattack of Target

Radar Provides Slant Range

Pilot Designates Target in HUD

Low Level Navigation with INS

SAM Site

Continuously Computed
Release Point (CCRP) Delivery
In the CCRP delivery mode, the ground map
modes of the radar provide target designation
using direct or offset radar sighting.

Blind Bombing CEP < 140 ft

Bridge

Automatic
Weapon
Release

Return to "Low-Level" and Follow

Head-Up Steering to Target

OAP is Any Point with Known

Bearing and Range from Target

Dam

"Pop-Up" to get Good Radar Picture

of OAP then Freeze-Radar Quiet

Lake

Low Level Nav

Ground Track

10

Beacon

Sea Surface Search

The pilot can select a beacon mode which

provides both accurate navigation fix taking and
offset weapon delivery relative to a ground
beacon, or rendezvous with aerial tankers
through interrogation of airborne beacons. The
coded beacon reply is displayed in PPI format.

The APG-66 Radar detects ships in various sea

states using sea surface search modes SEA 1
and SEA 2. Frequency agility techniques are
used in SEA 1 to detect stationary and moving
ships in sea conditions up to sea state 4. Using
a narrow Doppler notch in SEA 2, the radar can
detect moving targets in higher sea states. This
mode can also provide a moving target indication capability against moving radar-significant
ground targets.

Beacon

Sea Surface Search

Freeze

Freeze
The freeze mode provides quasi-quiet operation
for strike mission navigation in both expanded
and unexpanded GM, DBS, BCN, and SEA
modes. When the Freeze button on the control
panel is depressed, the antenna makes one
more scan. The radar map produced during this
scan is displayed until the Freeze button is
depressed again. During the frozen period, the
transmitter is off and no tell-tale radar radiation
emanates from the aircraft. Aircraft motion,
however, continues to be displayed by movement of an aircraft symbol over the map.

Performance Second To None

Since its initial deployment, the APG-66 has
undergone continuous evaluation and refinement so that today, it not only meets all requirements, but exceeds most specifications.
Operational experience is showing that the
radar far outperforms previous systems in
critical areas such as very low false alarm rate
and reliable detection and tracking.
This was amply demonstrated in five years of
testing including evaluation in realistic and
demanding scenarios such as the fjords and
glaciers of Norwaya worst case clutter
situation for a pulse Doppler radar.

11

Before the APG-66, false alarms and inconsistent detection problems had been accepted as
chronic, unresolvable phenomena. However,
through the use of innovative hardware design
and extensive digital software control, the
Westinghouse APG-66 maintains a very low
false alarm rate and can detect, acquire, and
track targets that other fire control radars cannot.

In addition, the ECCM (electronic countercountermeasures) capability offered through

the use of digital signal processing and computer
software has been continuously improved so
that ECCM features are almost totally automated
and the pilot is free to concentrate on his mission.
The APG-66 also enhances tactical mission
accomplishment when the aircraft is utilized in
the strike role. Numerous exercises, as well as
an operational readiness inspection, have
recorded excellent weapons delivery performance. This performance rivals that of dedicated
air-to-ground attack aircraft.

Functionally Modular Radar

Antenna

The APG-66 Radar consists of six functional

line replaceable units (LRUs). Each LRU has its
own self-contained power supply, and all six are
organized for autonomy, logical function, minimum interconnection, and ease of maintenance.

The planar array antenna, gimballed in two

axes, provides high gain and low sidelobes
over all scan angles. Its balanced electric
drive system is lightweight, highly reliable
and easily maintained.

A digital multiplex bus system provides communications between the radar computer and the
other LRUs. The digital signal processor is
connected to the radar computer by a dedicated
high speed data bus and the other LRUs communicate over a "party line" bus. All radar LRUs,
except the control panel, are mounted in the
nose of the F-16 aircraft and are accessible from
ground level.

APG-66 Radar Parameters

Volume
3.6ft 3 (.102 m3)
Weight
296 lb (134.3 kg)
Frequency
x band pulse Doppler
Reliability
97 hour demonstrated MTBF
Maintenance
5 minute flightline MTTR
Electronic Parts
9500
Cooling
Air cooled at 12 Ib/min
Input Power
3580 VA, 400 Hz, 245 Wdc
10,20,40,80nmi
Range Scales
Elevation Coverage
1, 2, or 4 bar
Antenna Azimuth Scan +10, +30, +60 degrees

Low Power RF

Digibus

Low Power RF

All radar functions including self-test are controlled by the radar computer via a serial digital
data bus called Digibus. Digibus is similar to the
F-16 aircraft avionics multiplex bus and interfaces with it through the radar computer.
Separate high-speed data buses transfer radar
data between the low power RF and the digital
signal processor, as well as between the radar
computer and the digital signal processor.
Standard RS170 video output is provided to the
display which can be video recorded for training
and mission assessment purposes.

The low-power radio frequency unit contains

a receiver protector, low-noise Field Effect
Transistor (FET) amplifier, receiver, analog /
digital converters, stable local oscillator (STALO),
and the system clock generator. All needed
analog processing of the radar return signal is
performed in this LRU. The LPRF also provides
frequency agility for certain air-to-surface
modes.

Transmitter

Control Panel

The transmitter contains an air-cooled traveling wave-tube (TWT), a solid-state grid pulser, high
voltage power supplies and regulators, and
protection and control circuitry. The entire transmitter is solid state, except for the final TWT
output tube. The pilot may select among four of
the 16 available APG-66 operating frequencies
in any given F-16 aircraft.

The radar control panel in the cockpit is used by

the pilot to command the desired radar channel
mode, range scale, scan width, and elevation
bar scan. The avionics system can, under many
conditions, assume control of the radar functions.

Transmitter

I Control Panel

Digital Signal Processor

Computer

Digital Signal Processor

Computer

Clutter rejection and other radar signal processing is performed by the digital signal processor.
Digital radar techniques have been used extensively to replace contemporary analog hardware. The digital signal processor uses standard
integrated circuits mounted in dual in-line
packages. Large scale integration (LSI) devices
are used where industry standards and multiple
sources exist. Thus, a high circuit density is
achieved which decreases size and weight at a
low cost. Custom LSI devices were avoided for
cost and availability reasons in favor of standard
devices, which have exhibited reliability maturity.

The radar computer configures the radar system

for the various operating modes, directs the
digital signal processor to embed symbols in the
video output, makes calculations, routes data to
the fire control computer, interfaces with other
F-16 avionic systems as well as other radar
LRU's and controls all of the self-test and builtin-test functions of the radar. Growth provisions
have also been made in the F-16 Radar for addition of the missile illuminator required for the
Sparrow (AIM-7) missile. The computer is
equipped with 48,000 16-bit words of programmable, semiconductor read-only memory.

Temporary scratch pad memory requirements

are met using volatile, semi-conductor random
access memory. Significantly ample memory
reserve exists for introduction of new features
and modes.

Head-Up, Hands-On Operation

The APG-66 Radar is designed for one-man
operation.
All com bat-critical radar set controls are integrated into the throttle grip and side stick controller. This allows the pilot to keep his head out of
the cockpit and his hands on the aircraft controls.
All other radar controls are incorporated on the
left console. Air-to-air information is displayed
on the HUD as well as the radar display.

14

Dogfight: Selects ACM

Radar Cursor: Moves x and y axis range
and azimuth markers and selects and positions
slewable ACM
Designate: Initiates air or ground track or
selects Boresight ACM
Return to Search
In Air-to-Air: Breaks lock, alternates ACM
fields of view between 20 x 20 and 10 x 40.
In Air-to-Ground: Selects in order Expand,
DBS, RBGM

Reliability By Design

Demonstrated Maintainability

The APG-66 Radar is designed to be ready

when needed. Reliability has been designed into
the radar from the start and its functionally
modular architecture eases maintainability.
To achieve high reliability, the APG-66
emphasizes design simplicity.

The APG-66 is partitioned into functional autonomous modules integrated by a digital data bus.
This modular architecture and continuous selftest greatly ease system maintainability.

No rate gyros, hydraulics, or roll gimbal.

One polarization, one rotary joint and a single
channel receiver.
Parts count reduced to only 9500 through the
use of digital architecture.

15

APG-66 Maintenance
One Year Period

In the cockpit
Continuous self-test provides the pilot with a
97% confidence level that no malfunctions exist.
If a malfunction is detected, the pilot or mainten ance personnel can initiate a built-in test routine
that will isolate 97% of the faults to a particular
LRU.

Radar Reliability Hill AFB

(Based on Westinghouse Field Data)
Two Year History

On the flight line

The only required maintenance is to replace the
defective LRU. This can be done in less than five
minutes. No special tools or test equipment are
needed and there is no flight line adjustment or
electronic harmonization necessary.

At the intermediate shop

The LRU fault is isolated to a Shop Replaceable
Unit (SRU) which is then replaced.

At the depot level

The faulty SRU is repaired.

F-16 Radar Combat Readiness

Six Month Period

Partners In Production

Proven In Production

The APG-66 Radar, like the F-16 aircraft, is being

manufactured as part of a multinational coproduction program. Electronics firms from four
European countries who have purchased the
F-16 manufacture four of the LRUs in the radar
system.
Belgium produces the radar computer, Denmark
the control panel, Norwaythe equipment
rack, and the Netherlands the planar array
antenna assembly.

The four European subassemblies undergo

checkout and are integrated with the remaining
Westinghouse-produced equipment needed
to complete the radar system. The completed
system is then shipped for aircraft installation.

16

APG-66 subassemblies nearing completion. Once completed, subassemblies are then assembled into finished
radar LRU's and readied for final testing

In the APG-66 Final Test Area, each system LRU, like the
antenna shown, undergoes testing at a full range of temperature extremes to simulate actual aircraft flight conditions.

Over 800 APG-66 radars were delivered in the

first three years of production, often at rates
exceeding 35 systems per month.
At Westinghouse, progressive assembly lines
are used on various critical APG-66 assemblies
to minimize assembly error. This results in
increased productivity and higher levels of
quality.
Automatic and semi-automatic test equipment
reduce the standard equipment test time substantially. Thorough testing of each LRU assures
that every system that goes into the field meets
the overall quality, reliability and performance
requirements of the system.