Raytheon Finalizes Key Design Review for Advanced Electronic Warfare System on U.S. Navy's Super Hornet

Raytheon, a business under RTX, has achieved a significant milestone in the development of its Advanced Electronic Warfare (ADVEW) system for the U.S. Navy's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. By completing the Delta Design Review ahead of schedule, the company solidifies its commitment to equipping the Super Hornet with cutting-edge electronic warfare capabilities that are critical for modern combat operations.

The ADVEW prototype is designed to replace legacy systems, offering superior electronic attack and support functionalities. These enhancements are pivotal for ensuring the survivability of the Super Hornet in increasingly complex threat environments. The Delta Design Review focused on weapons replaceable assemblies (WRAs), confirming that the hardware meets stringent performance requirements. This validation marks a leap forward in preparing the system for integration with operational aircraft.

A Multi-Functional Approach to Modern Warfare

At the heart of ADVEW's innovation lies its multi-function design, which combines electronic support and electronic attack in a single, highly adaptable system. According to Bryan Rosselli, President of Advanced Products & Solutions at Raytheon, “This milestone demonstrates our commitment to delivering advanced solutions capable of countering the most sophisticated threats. ADVEW embodies the future of electronic warfare, enabling our forces to maintain a tactical edge.”

The system integrates seamlessly with Open Mission Systems (OMS), ensuring compatibility with a wide range of platforms and easing future upgrades. This adaptability is essential as adversaries deploy increasingly advanced radar, communication, and jamming technologies.

Engineering Innovation to Mitigate Risks

Raytheon utilized digital and model-based systems engineering tools throughout ADVEW’s development process. These tools ensured rigorous traceability of requirements and facilitated a more streamlined design process. By employing shared materials and advanced manufacturing techniques, the company has minimized supply chain risks while also reducing overall production costs.

This approach reflects a broader trend in defense procurement, where digital engineering and modular design enable faster development cycles and improved reliability. By reducing the risk of delays or cost overruns, the Navy can expedite fielding this critical capability.

Future Steps for ADVEW

Having secured an $80 million contract in December 2022 to prototype ADVEW, Raytheon now transitions to the next program phase. This will involve rigorous laboratory testing in government facilities to validate OMS compliance and demonstrate the system’s operational capabilities. The integration phase will also ensure that ADVEW aligns with the Super Hornet’s existing systems, paving the way for enhanced mission readiness.

Advanced Specifications of ADVEW

• Multi-Mode Capabilities: Combines electronic attack and support functionalities in a unified package.
• Open Mission Systems (OMS) Compliance: Ensures interoperability and future scalability.
• Digital Engineering: Employs model-based systems engineering to streamline design and integration.
• Compact WRAs: Modular design allows for easy maintenance and potential upgrades.
• Enhanced Survivability: Designed to counter advanced radar and jamming technologies in contested environments.

The ADVEW system exemplifies the Navy’s focus on modernizing its fleet to stay ahead of evolving threats. With this technology, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is positioned to remain a formidable platform in electronic warfare for years to come.

This new milestone underscores the collaborative effort between Raytheon and the U.S. Navy to future-proof critical aircraft systems. As adversaries evolve their electronic warfare capabilities, solutions like ADVEW will play a vital role in maintaining strategic and tactical advantages in contested battlespaces.