The 
Air Force wants Raytheon and Northrop Grumman to compete for a contract to upgrade the Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle radar system with an active electronically scanned array, according to Flight International. Raytheon upgraded 18 of USAF’s F-15Cs with the APG-63 and recently won a contract to upgrade Navy F/A-18E/F aircraft. Currently, USAF is considering whether to add AESA radar to Air National Guard F-15Cs to aid them in homeland defense against cruise missiles. (DR, 9/19/05)
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.