Hill depot upgrades F-16 radar test systems to expand capacity

Hill Air Force Base’s 523rd Electronic Maintenance Squadron has upgraded two specialized test systems used for F-16 radar antennas and nose radomes, replacing obsolete equipment and increasing the depot’s ability to handle workload surges.

The Radio Frequency Shop is the Air Force’s sole source for F-16 radar-antenna repair and radome tuning, according to the installation. It tests about 160 antennas and 70 radomes each year. The Nose Radome Electrical Test System measures whether a repaired nose cone weakens or distorts radar signals, while the Fire Control Radar Antenna Test System checks beam direction, radiation patterns and transmit-and-receive performance.

Radomes can undergo robotic coating removal, structural repair, resurfacing and precision painting before final electrical testing. Antennas follow a separate repair and verification sequence. Kelly Sellers, avionics flight chief for the squadron, said the two components must function together to maintain reliable detection and tracking performance.

The Air Force source did not disclose the cost, contractor, award date or commissioning schedule for the test-system upgrades. It also did not announce an open procurement. The systems are already in use supporting ongoing depot operations.

Next step: no additional dated milestone was announced; the shop will continue using the modernized equipment to process its annual F-16 workload and urgent field requests.

Photo: The Fire Control Radar Antenna Test System inside an anechoic chamber at Hill Air Force Base on November 4. U.S. Air Force photo by Cynthia Griggs, public domain. Photograph record.

Source: Hill Air Force Base, reviewed November 11, 2026.