RTX’s Raytheon Successfully Tests AI-Powered Radar Warning System for Fighter Jets

Raytheon, an RTX business, has successfully completed flight tests of its groundbreaking AI and machine learning-powered Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) for fourth-generation fighter jets. This next-generation system, known as the Cognitive Algorithm Deployment System (CADS), is designed to enhance pilot survivability by providing real-time threat detection and prioritization.

At the core of CADS is an advanced Embedded Graphics Processing Unit integrated with Deepwave Digital’s computing stack, allowing AI models to function seamlessly within Raytheon’s existing radar warning systems. This innovative approach enables fighter jets to rapidly identify, categorize, and respond to threats directly at the sensor level—giving pilots faster and more accurate situational awareness.

Raytheon highlights CADS as a cost-effective and scalable solution to modernizing defense systems. By incorporating cognitive processing methods, the system significantly reduces decision-making latency, providing a critical advantage in high-stakes combat environments.

AI-Driven Radar Warning: A Game-Changer

Bryan Rosselli, President of Advanced Products and Solutions at Raytheon, emphasized the impact of CADS on modern warfare:

“The advantages of AI in defense systems are extensive, and our recent CADS test demonstrates how commercially available products, paired with advanced algorithms and cognitive methods, can help the U.S. and its allies outpace peer threats. CADS’ ability to quickly process data and run third-party algorithms that prioritize threats, with almost no latency, will significantly enhance survivability for military personnel.”

The initial CADS hardware and cognitive radar processing tests were conducted on Raytheon’s own flight test aircraft. In December, the system underwent further trials on an F-16 at the Air National Guard’s test range in Tucson, Arizona. These tests confirmed AI-driven threat recognition and response, marking a major milestone in the deployment of artificial intelligence in electronic warfare.

The flight tests were conducted in collaboration with the Georgia Tech Research Institute, Vadum, Inc., and Raytheon’s cognitive electronic warfare team. Given the success of these trials, CADS is set to enter production and be integrated into multiple aircraft platforms starting in early 2025.

This breakthrough technology signals a major shift in how AI is shaping the future of air combat, ensuring that fighter jets remain one step ahead in an increasingly complex threat environment.