The US Air Force (USAF) has selected Raytheon’s PhantomStrike radar for installation on the X-62A Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft (VISTA) as part of a broader modernization and autonomy upgrade effort. The move supports the service’s objective to enhance autonomous flight testing and advanced sensor integration using a highly adaptable testbed aircraft.
PhantomStrike is a compact, air-cooled fire-control radar built on gallium nitride (GaN) technology, offering significantly reduced size, weight, and power requirements compared to traditional active electronically scanned array (AESA) systems. Weighing under 150 pounds (68 kg), the radar is optimized for deployment on uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), light-attack aircraft, and rotary-wing platforms, making it suitable for next-generation autonomous applications.
According to Raytheon, PhantomStrike uses digital beamforming and electronic beam steering to enable multiple operational modes, including the ability to simultaneously conduct air-to-air and air-to-ground targeting. This flexible architecture allows the radar to deliver advanced capability at a lower cost than comparable systems, expanding its appeal across a wide range of military aircraft.
The X-62A VISTA, developed by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in partnership with Calspan Corporation for the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, is a modified F-16D Block 30 incorporating Block 40 avionics and an open-systems architecture. Designed as a hybrid platform for machine-learning, artificial intelligence (AI), and autonomy testing, VISTA complements the VENOM-AFT program. In 2025, the aircraft is scheduled to receive further upgrades aimed at evaluating real-time AI decision-making, system collaboration, and complex operational scenarios.
