Boeing
Boeing's RF Engineering Footprint
Boeing's defense portfolio contains some of the most demanding RF system integration challenges in the industry. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet airframe accommodates an X-band AESA radar (APG-79) in a nose radome with strict aerodynamic constraints while supporting the IDECM self-protection EW suite, Link 16 datalinks, IFF transponders, and multiple communications antennas sharing a limited aperture budget. The EA-18G Growler variant adds the ALQ-218(V)2 wideband receiver (0.5–40 GHz instantaneous coverage) and high-power jamming pods, creating an electromagnetic environment where the platform simultaneously receives, analyzes, and jams signals across a 40 GHz bandwidth.
In space, Boeing's WGS constellation provides the military's primary wideband SATCOM backbone. Each WGS Block II satellite uses digital channelizers to allocate bandwidth between X-band (7.25–8.4 GHz) and Ka-band (26.5–40 GHz), creating up to 19 independent coverage beams with 11 Gbps aggregate throughput. The 702SP all-electric platform eliminates chemical propellant mass, allowing larger RF payloads with higher EIRP per beam for commercial Ka-band high-throughput satellites supporting 100+ spot beams.
WGS Ka-band Downlink Budget
FSPL (36,000 km, 20 GHz):
FSPL = 20log(4πd/λ) = 210.6 dB
Atmos. + rain: 3–12 dB
Ground G/T (1.2 m dish): 15–25 dB/K
C/N0 = EIRP − FSPL − A + G/T + 228.6
= 52 − 210.6 − 6 + 20 + 228.6 = 84 dBHz
Rate (QPSK 3/4, Eb/N0=3 dB):
R = 108.1 ≈ 126 Mbps/beam
Boeing RF Platform Comparison
| Platform | RF System | Band | Technology | Key Capability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F/A-18E/F | APG-79 AESA | X (8–12 GHz) | ~1,100 GaN T/R | Simultaneous SAR + track |
| F-15EX | APG-82(V)1 | X (8–12 GHz) | ~1,500 GaN T/R | Extended detection range |
| AH-64E | AN/APG-78 Longbow | Ka (35 GHz) | MMW mech. scan | 128 targets in 30 s |
| EA-18G | ALQ-218 / NGJ | 0.5–40 GHz | Wideband DRFM, GaN AESA | Airborne electronic attack |
| WGS | Digital channelizer | Ka + X | 19-beam phased array | 11 Gbps mil SATCOM |
| 702SP | Ka-band HTS | Ka (26.5–40 GHz) | 100+ spot beams | >100 Gbps commercial |
Frequently Asked Questions
What AESA radars does Boeing integrate?
F/A-18E/F carries the Raytheon APG-79 (~1,100 GaN T/R modules, X-band) providing simultaneous air-to-air search and SAR ground mapping with ~50% range improvement over the APG-73. F-15EX integrates the APG-82(V)1 with ~1,500 elements. AH-64E uses the AN/APG-78 Longbow FCR, a 35 GHz MMW radar detecting 128 targets in under 30 seconds for fire-and-forget Hellfire targeting through weather and battlefield obscurants.
EA-18G Growler EW systems?
The ALQ-218(V)2 wideband receiver covers 0.5–40 GHz using interferometric DF with wingtip/fuselage arrays. Active jamming via ALQ-99 pods (being replaced by NGJ-MB: GaN AESA with precision directional multi-beam jamming, fully digital frequency-agile architecture). ALE-55 fiber-optic towed decoy provides radar missile deception. The platform simultaneously receives, geolocates, and jams across 40 GHz bandwidth.
Boeing satellite RF payloads?
WGS: 11 Gbps/satellite across Ka/X-band with digital channelizers and 19 beams providing flexible theater coverage. 702SP all-electric platform: xenon ion propulsion frees mass for larger RF payloads; 100+ Ka-band spot beams, >100 Gbps HTS. GPS III: enhanced L-band (1.164–1.610 GHz) with higher-power M-code anti-jam transmissions.