Raytheon has reached a significant milestone with the completion of a vital software and systems review for its Advanced Electronic Warfare (ADVEW) prototype, designed specifically for the US Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. This new system aims to enhance the aircraft’s defensive capabilities by replacing the existing AN/ALQ-214 integrated defensive electronic countermeasure and the AN/ALR-67(V)3 radar warning receiver, which are critical for survival in contested environments.
The recent review confirmed notable advancements in the ADVEW prototype’s software development. It also established successful integration with flight-representative hardware and other vital self-protection subsystems, while verifying adherence to government-established reference architecture requirements.
In conjunction with the review, Raytheon has conducted a Test Plan Working Group aimed at coordinating and streamlining the evaluation process of the system’s in-flight performance. This initiative ensures that assessments of the prototype can be conducted efficiently, paving the way for readiness evaluations.
Looking ahead, Raytheon is poised to conduct further demonstrations and intends to deliver shipsets for government-led integration testing. This step will bring the ADVEW program closer to operational evaluation and potential field deployment. Dan Theisen, president of Advanced Products & Solutions at Raytheon, emphasized the prototype’s advancements, stating, “Our ADVEW prototype continues to showcase significant progress in both hardware and software that will improve the aircraft’s ability to detect and counter electronic threats.” He added that the development is on track with an accelerated timeline set by the US Navy.
In a competitive landscape, both Raytheon and L3Harris Technologies received contracts worth $80 million in 2023 to develop their respective prototypes for the ADVEW program. L3Harris has already announced the successful completion of critical hardware checks and capability demonstrations for their variant of the system.
Raytheon’s ADVEW system promises substantial upgrades, reducing the number of components while adopting an open-architecture design to facilitate future enhancements. Crucially, it will retain compatibility with legacy Super Hornet systems, including existing radio-frequency sensors and effectors.
Meanwhile, Boeing has announced plans to halt production of the Super Hornet by 2027, following the delivery of the final aircraft for the US Navy. This shift is part of a strategic redirection of resources to focus on the development of the sixth-generation F/A-XX aircraft, intended to succeed the fourth-generation Super Hornet.
