The AESA radar can detect, locate and identify long-range targets using active and passive modes. This technology allows the F-35 to survive and thrive against increasingly complex threats. | F-35 Lightning II

Active electronically scanned array (AESA radar as a directed energy weapon. The new generation of AESA radars have the capability of directing concentrated beams of high energy microwaves. If seen some articles that hint at the fact that these could be used as a weapon, in and of themselves. Look into Raytheon's "Vigilant Eagle" anti-missile (manpad) defense system for airports, it was a high-power microwave (HPM) weapon which used an active array and phase variation for beam steering (ie. elec