Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC
Lockheed Martin hopes that European F-16 operators will decide within the next few months on further upgrades to their aircraft, to meet the mid-year deadline for definition of the next software release for the F-16 mid-life update (MLU).
Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway are evaluating upgrades including new short range air to air missiles, helmet mounted sight and missile warning system. Similar upgrades are also planned for US Air Force F-16s, and co-ordinating the necessary software updates would avoid increasing cost and timescale, Lockheed Martin says.
USAF Block 50 F-16s are being upgraded with the modular mission computer developed for the MLU, and software updates are being defined jointly with the European air forces. Updated F-16s now emerging from depots in Europe have the initial M1 software release. The M2 update is already defined and will be released in late 2000.
Definition of the M3 release planned for 2003 is expected by July, says Lockheed Martin. The US Air Force already intends to include the Raytheon AIM-9X missile, Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System and Common Missile Warning System in the M3 update. The Europeans are still evaluating their requirements.
Flight tests of a GEC-Marconi helmet mounted display and a Northrop Grumman missile warning system are being conducted in Europe to define requirements. The AIM-9X is being evaluated against the Matra BAe Dynamics ASRAAM and German BGT IRIS-T missiles.
Lockheed Martin, meanwhile, says that some 40% of the 301 MLU kits ordered by the Europeans have been delivered. A follow-on order for 32 kits is expected "within weeks", with options for a further 34 still to be exercised. Portugal is close to ordering 20 kits for ex-US Air Force F-16s it is acquiring, and could buy 25 more.
Thailand and Venezuela are interested in updating their F-16s, the company says.
Source: Flight International
