Rep. Bacon Broaches APG-83 Radar for Ukrainian F-16s

Representative Don Bacon has proposed fitting some of Ukraine's older F-16s with Northrop Grumman's AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned array radar. The upgrade could improve detection, tracking, electronic protection, and targeting compared with legacy mechanically scanned radars on aircraft donated by the Netherlands and Denmark since 2024. Bacon's comments reflect congressional advocacy rather than an approved acquisition program, and implementation would require U.S. authorization, funding, engineering integration, training, and support; the number of aircraft, delivery schedule, and effect on other radar orders remain unresolved.