The US Air National Guard has trained airmen with the new AN/ASQ-236 radar pods aboard F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole fighters.
The program upskilled program managers, avionics specialists, pilots, and aircrews in installing the radar and using it to plan interoperability across post-block F-16s.
“This effort has been ongoing for many years,” F-16 Program Manager Annette Becker stated.
“The continued partnerships, successful execution and effective cross-talk have established courses of action for the Air National Guard to operationalize the AN/ASQ-236.”
The AN/ASQ-236 Radar
The AN/ASQ-236 is an externally-mounted active electronically scanned array pod that provides high-quality maps for coordinate generation, surveillance, and bomb impact review.
The pod geo-locates areas day or night, even in extreme weather.
Several of the radars have already been operational in the air force’s F-15E Strike Eagle multirole strike jets.
Retaining Radar Expertise
The training was attended by personnel from the US Air Force Materiel Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air National Guard-Air Force Reserve Command Test Center, and the 148th Fighter Wing that operates Block 50 F-16CMs.
During the event, the 148th Fighter Wing was designated the US Air National Guard’s AN/ASQ-236 center of excellence.
“As the center of excellence, the 148th will retain expertise in the loading, distribution, training and employment of the AN/ASQ-236 and the capabilities it brings to the warfighter,” 148th Fighter Wing Commander Col. Nathan Aysta stated.
