Graham Warwick/Washington DC
LOCKHEEDMARTIN IS considering using company funds to develop upgrades for the F-16, if a launch order for an advanced derivative is delayed beyond the end of this year.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is reportedly in serious negotiations to purchase the so-called "Block 60" advanced F-16, and could place an order for up to 80 aircraft before the end of the year. The programme has been delayed more than once, however, and Lockheed Martin is looking at independently developing some of the planned improvements.
The current production standard for the F-16C/D is the Block 50. The US Air Force has placed an order for six improved Block 50 F-16Cs for delivery in 2000. They will incorporate several upgrades, including colour displays, new mission-computer and digital-terrain system. This is likely to become the new F-16C/D production standard for foreign-military sales.
The Block 60 aircraft would have further improvements, including extended range, active-array radar, helmet-mounted display and other upgrades. Some are being developed for other programmes, but others are awaiting a launch customer.
Lockheed Martin has several helmet-mounted-display options. They are the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) under development for the US Air Force, the Elbit DASH helmet used in Israeli F-16s, and a GEC/Honeywell display to be evaluated by the Royal Netherlands Air Force on the mid-life-update F-16.
The company would like to have available by 2002 the active-array radar, an upgrade of the Northrop Grumman APG-68 in the F-16C/D, and is keen to begin development. The radar has been offered to the UAE and to Norway.
The US Air Force, meanwhile, has embarked on a programme to upgrade its Block 50, Block 40 and, possibly, Block 30 F-16s over four to six years, from around 2001.
Source: Flight International
