Rossi said that the C-130 is only equipped with weather radar, and the SABR can provide air-to-ground capability and increase situational awareness to the C-130 crew. Rossi said, " If you think about the C-130, it doesn"t fly fast. So, the more they (the crew) know about what is in front of them, the further they can see, the better."The AESA radar has several advantages over traditional mechanical systems. Electronically, the radar beam can be directed more quickly and flexibly (agile beam steering). As a result, this radar can detect and track a more significant number of targets. Furthermore, this AESA radar has LPI (Low Probability of Interception) capability. LPI means that radar emissions are more difficult for opponents to detect.
In its specifications, the AN/APG-83 radar offers the pilot greater situational awareness, flexibility and targeting in various weather conditions.Regarding detection range, the AN/APG-83 has a detection range of 120 km and an identification range of 84 km.
Northrop Grumman intends to equip the C-130 Hercules with the AN/APG-83 AESA radar
Northrop Grumman plans to install Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) AN/APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) radar to C-130 Hercules. The British Janes publication quoted the director of Northrop Grumman's Scalable Agile Beam Radar program, Mark Rossi, saying that while the AN/APG-83 was designed for the F-16, the C-130 community is interested in the SABR technology.
