PhantomStrike Low-Cost Lightweight AESA Radar Flies For First Time
Raytheon has begun test flights of its compact PhantomStrike radar, a lightweight, air-cooled active electronically scanned array (AESA) system featuring advanced gallium nitride (GaN) technology. Promising high-end capabilities at roughly half the cost and weight of typical AESA radars, PhantomStrike is designed for integration into a broad range of platforms, including drones, helicopters, and light combat aircraft like Poland’s FA-50. Its affordability, size, and lack of liquid cooling make it ideal for unmanned systems such as the U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft, enabling extended sensor reach and tactical flexibility. The radar demonstrated successful airborne target tracking and terrain mapping during its first flight, and its future applications may extend to electronic warfare and communications, enhancing the situational awareness and survivability of next-generation aerial platforms.