The first APG-73-equipped F/A-18 flew on April 15, 1992 and the first APG-73-equipped Hornets entered service on May 25-26, 1994 with VFA-146 "Blue Diamonds" and VFA-147 "Argonauts" at NAS Lemoore, California. Although this radar's tracking and detection ranges are about half of the Tomcat's AWG-9 or APG-71, the Hornet's APG-73 is a superior air-to-ground radar. APG-73 retrofits to Hornets in 1998 allow USMC Harrier II Pluses to be outfitted with surplus APG-65 sets. The APG-73 suite is standard in export F/A-18s, such as the Finnish, Malaysian and Swiss Hornets.
