Northrop Grumman wins $124 million U.S. contract to start production work on 67 new AN/APG-85 radars for the F-35 fleet

By Hannah Miller (Defence Industry Europe)

Air | September 28, 2026

Northrop Grumman wins $124 million U.S. contract to start production work on 67 new AN/APG-85 radars for the F-35 fleet

Photo: Northrop Grumman.

The U.S. Department of War has signed a $124 million agreement with Northrop Grumman to begin production work and order components for 67 AN/APG-85 radars. The award covers the seventh production lot of a radar intended for the F-35 Lightning II fleet.

The department provided the full funding when the September agreement was signed. Work under the contract is scheduled to run through February 2031.

The AN/APG-85 is expected to form part of the F-35’s Technology Refresh 3 upgrade package, building on experience with the AN/APG-81 radar currently fitted to the aircraft. Available information indicates that the new system will use an active electronically scanned array antenna incorporating updated technology.

Installing the AN/APG-85 requires F-35 aircraft to be prepared for the new radar, including changes to the forward fuselage and its mounting arrangement. The contract starts production and component procurement for the 67 radars; it does not mark their delivery.

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Northrop Grumman wins $124 million U.S. contract to start production work on 67 new AN/APG-85 radars for the F-35 fleet

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