2017/01/21 14:21:37
Taipei, Jan.
21 (CNA) Taiwan's state-owned Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC)
said it has begun an upgrade of the country's fleet of U.S.-manufactured F-16
fighter jets and that the work is expected to be completed within six years.
The first
batch of four F-16s is being upgraded at the AIDC's plant, said the company,
adding that a new hangar will be launched soon to facilitate the retrofit
program.
In order to
carry out the program locally, the manufacturer of the jets -- Lockheed Martin
in the United States -- sent its engineers to Taiwan last year and helped train
local personnel at the AIDC on how to perform the upgrades to improve the
aircraft's combat capability.
According to
the AIDC, the retrofit program will include installing advanced equipment on
the fighters, including the AN/APG active electronically scanned array (AESA)
radar system, currently used in the U.S. F-22 and F-35 fighter aircraft. The
Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System and the short-range air-to-air missile AIM-9
Sidewinder will also be installed.
The
aircraft's avionics and weapons systems will also be replaced, the AIDC said.
Under the Air
Force-led project, Taiwan will spend NT$110 billion (US$3.39 billion) to
upgrade 142 fighters in its F-16A/B fleet locally, with the other two planes
being upgraded in the United States by the manufacturer.
The U.S.
approved a sale of 150 F-16A/B fighters to Taiwan in 1992. Over the years,
Taiwan has lost six of them in accidents.
The F-16 is
one of the three main types of combat aircraft in Taiwan's Air Force.
(By Wei Shu
and Elaine Hou)
ENDITEM/cs
Original post:
focustaiwan.tw
It seems
there is an error in earlier news that the upgrade cost only $1.85 billion but
in actual fact is $3.39 billion or around $24 million per plane....
Related post:
F-16V Fighter
– Upgrade: Details
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