Quepem, Goa. 02 April,2016. Today’s fighter environment is all about information in the cockpit and F16V will be a perfect example of this. Indian Air Force will benefit majorly by this fighter in their inventory, reiterated Randall L Howard, Director, Integrated Fighter Group, Aeronautics Strategy & Business Development.
He was optimistic of the time just being right for Lockheed to offer F16 V, the advanced fourth generation fighter jet to India and also set up a production line for it in India. “There is an urgent need for a single engine fighter aircraft in India now. If we have to set up a shop here, it has to be a government-to-government decision. We are in talks with the government,” says Randall.
Lockheed is not talking of establishing a final assembly line for F 16 for the first time. They have had them in Belgium, Netherlands, Turkey and Korea but at the moment all four of them are doing maintenance work and all deliveries are at present being done from FortWorth, Texas, in US. “We are offering latest F-16Vs to India, which is a tech beast by itself. It has a new AESA radar, new mission computer, additional weapons, upgraded cockpit and a host of new features. We have had LM plants in five countries and hence setting up one in India wouldn’t be a problem,” he said.
The F-16V is the latest in F-16 evolution. Leveraging 40 years of experience, the F-16V includes enhancements such as an AESA Radar, advanced architecture, new center display and the latest in certified weaponry. This improves pilot situational awareness and provides customers increased operational capability. The F-16V is an option for new production jets and current fleet upgrades. The Taiwan government selected the F-16V configuration for its 145 Block 20 F-16 A/B aircraft.
“ F16 V is a natural evolution of a proven programme in its midlife. There are three South East Asian customers for the F16V upgrade programme. The AESA RADAR it will have the latest advancements and Northrop Grumman is the best when it comes to radar technology.” said Randall.
Some of these leading-edge systems include new conformal fuel tanks significantly extend the aircraft’s range, new, more advanced flight controls and radar detection capabilities and all-new avionics to give the pilots more sensor data and improved situational awareness.
Lockheed Martin insists that all fifth generation technologies are rolled back into F16 and it becomes F16V. The F-16V jet fighter was unveiled at the Singapore Airshow in February 2012. The company received a $1.85bn contract from the US Government to upgrade 145 Block 20 F-16A/B aircraft for the Republic of China (Taiwan) Air Force, in October 2012. The upgrades are based on the F-16V version.The integration of a new active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar on Viper aircraft finished in August 2014.
Air-to-air missiles (AAMs) like AIM-9 Sidewinder, Magic II and ASRAAM short-range AAMs, as well as AIM-7, Sky Flash and AIM-120 medium-range AAMs can be fitted in the F16V. In addition it can also have AIM-9X, Python IV, AIM-132 ASRAAM and IRIS-T. Integration of AGM-119/AGM-84/AGM-65G anti-ship missiles, and AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground tactical missile, as well as Paveway laser-guided bombs, GBU-15 bombs and wind corrected munitions dispenser weapons can also be done on it.
F16V took its maiden flight in October 2015 and it can travel faster than Mach which means more than 2400kph. Randal feels it will increase lethality, survivability and operability and will keep the F16 at the fore front of international security for decades to come.
From A/B to C/D to V F 16s have come a long way. 27 customers, 4,588 ordered , 4568 delivered and a backlog of 20 with 1000 plus upgrades delivered and 55 follow on buys from 16 countries give the fighter a production life well beyond 2020. And if the two governments reach a consensus of procurement and then manufacturing line in India, this life span could extend much beyond this decade.Forty years and more than 4,500 planes later, the F-16 continues to build upon the fundamental strengths of its original design.
