AESA for old Hornets

With USMC pushing its F-18C/D retirement plan out to 2030 ( !!! hello, managed airframe life problems from hell.), industry are pushing AESA upgrades for users of this old aircraft.

Various service chiefs from around the world say they are "committed" to the F-35.

Yeah, I guess.

Meanwhile industry is not doing these AESA upgrades tests on speculation.

Someone in DOD asked them to do it.

When will we see contract money flow? Or, is this just to put the fear into the F-35 program?

Again.

Note that various DOD test reports show that the Super Hornet Block II AESA APG-79 has not reached full software spiral yet (still some features to work on vs. the PowerPoint sales pitch).



What real capability will be in these classic Hornet AESAs? Block II Super Hornet was not trivial for the AESA, engine powered cooling appliances and a massively different wiring system had to be put in.

SABR has advertised in the past that upgrading legacy F-16s with their AESA is easy.