Paul Lewis and Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC
Lockheed Martin has revealed that its recently submitted F-16C/D proposal to Chile includes elements of the new advanced-capability version. The Chilean air force (FACh) has moved quickly to press the newly inaugurated government in Santiago for a decision on the fighter programme.
Chile has been offered a version of the Advanced F-16, leveraging recent sales successes in Israel and Greece. Henry Gomez, Lockheed Martin international business development manager, says: "The aircraft has a lot more capability than that initially proposed, as the result of recent advanced configuration sales, but for the same price."
The proposed FACh version would include the Northrop Grumman APG-68(V)XM radar and 2,275 litre (600USgal) conformal fuel tanks. The aircraft would be integrated with the Rafael Python 4 air-to-air missile and Elbit DASH helmet-mounted cueing system in service with Chile's upgraded Northrop F-5E/Fs.
In response to a Chilean requirement for an active beyond-visual-range missile, the aircraft would be fitted for, but not with, the Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM. The US Government has held back from releasing the missile to the region until a comparable system enters local service - likely to be Peru's deployment of the Vympel AA-12 on MAPO MiG-29s.
Chile-proposed F-16s, in addition, would arrive fitted with an Israeli datalink to ensure interoperability with the FACh's Elta Phalcon-radar equipped Boeing 707 Condor, used for airborne early warning.
FACh commander-in-chief Gen Patricio Rios, in the meantime, has wasted no time in meeting Chile's new socialist president Ricardo Lagos. Rios is believed to be pushing for an early decision on the fighter after two years of delay.
Chile's new administration has indicated that a fighter purchase is not its top priority, but must weigh this against the potential benefits of making an early gesture to the armed forces, says a local observer.
The (V)XM radar offered to Chile has just been launched by a $2.1 billion contract from Greece for 50 Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 50+ fighters. Israel has selected the same radar for 50 Block 50+ F-16s it plans to order.
The radar provides an increase in air-to-air detection range of at least 25%, compared with the APG-68 in other F-16s, says marketing director Scott Porter. The (V)XM also introduces a high-resolution synthetic aperture radar ground imaging mode.
The (V)XM will provide Block 50+ F-16 buyers with the option of upgrading to an active electronically scanned array, Porter says. Northrop Grumman thinks a market to upgrade APG-68s to (V)XM standard will emerge. The kit will be available in "three years".
Source: Flight International
