Singapore Technologies Aerospace's (ST Aero) Lockheed Martin F-16C/D cockpit avionics upgrade technology demonstrator was flown for the first time on 15 February as part of a project sponsored by the Singapore ministry of defence.
The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) owned demonstrator aircraft is undergoing flight tests as ST Aero steps up work on the separate Falcon One F-16 avionics upgrade, which it is offering to the export market in partnership with BAE Systems.
The RSAF has yet to make any formal commitment to upgrade its F-16C/Ds. However, chief of the air force Brig Gen Lim Kim Choon says the RSAF is "interested in exploring new systems, such as the mission computer and multifunction colour displays, to evaluate the effects of man-machine interface features as well as data integration for an advanced cockpit configuration".
ST Aero plans to leverage work carried out as part of the defence ministry-sponsored flight test programme to boost the proposed Falcon One cockpit upgrade, which is undergoing bench testing and was demonstrated at Asian Aerospace.
The package includes a mission computer and software developed by ST Aero which incorporates BAE's digital moving-mapdata cards.
L-3 Communications supplies the cockpit's three multifunction colour displays, while BAE also provides the head-up and helmet-mounted displays and cockpit camera.
ST Aero is currently searching for a launch customer for the avionics upgrade.
Source: Flight International
