Substantially smaller deal worth $1.1bn will include modifications to over 200 fighters
Turkey has reduced the scope of its planned Lockheed Martin F-16 upgrade, signing a deal with the US government substantially smaller than the $3.9 billion programme originally outlined. Under the $1.1 billion deal agreed last week, Turkey will modernise 117 Block 30 and Block 50 F-16s, with the upgrade of more than 100 Block 40 aircraft and new radars for the bulk of the fleet as options.
Lockheed expects to sign a contract in July for the Peace Onyx III upgrade, which is based on a US Air Force programme under which Block 40/50 F-16s are being updated to a common avionics configuration. Installation of the upgrade kits will be performed in-country by Turkey's Tusas Aerospace Industries.
Turkey's Block 50 F-16s will be updated with colour cockpit displays and recorder, new core avionics processor, helmet-mounted cueing system, Link 16 datalink, advanced interrogator/transponder, integrated precision navigation and the unique SPEWS 2 electronic-warfare system developed by BAE Systems and Turkey's Aselsan. The upgrade will include provisions for the Northrop Grumman APG-68(V) 9 multi-mode radar, with procurement of the radars themselves a later option.
Turkish defence minister Vecdi Gonul says the modernisation work will be completed by 2012, with the updated aircraft to remain in service until 2040.
The country's Block 40 F-16s are not covered by the basic programme, with their upgrade to a common configuration a later option. The Block 30 F-16s in Turkey's fleet will receive a modest update, says Lockheed.
The original modernisation plan covered 218 F-16s: 104 Block 40s, 76 Block 50s and 38 Block 30s. The proposal also included small quantities of a wide range of US-supplied air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons for testing.
GRAHAM WARWICK/WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
