Taiwan begins F-16V modernisation effort
Gareth
Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
17 January
2017
Taiwan has
begun the process of upgrading its Lockheed Martin F-16 fighting Falcon combat
aircraft to the latest F-16V configuration, with the first jets arriving at the
Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC) facility in Taichung, it was
reported on 17 January.
The first
four of the Republic of China Air Force's (RoCAF's) F-16A/Bs to be retrofitted
were flown to the facility in the northwest of the island the day before the
disclosure of the commencement of the project, which was made by national media.
Lockheed
Martin had not responded to an IHS Jane's request for conformation and
additional details at the time of writing.
First
unveiled at the Singapore Airshow in 2012, the F-16V features the Northrop
Grumman AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar (also known
as the Scalable Agile Beam Radar [SABR] and derived from the F-16E/F Block 60
AN/APG-80); a new Raytheon mission computer; the Link 16 datalink; modern
cockpit displays; an enhanced electronic warfare system; and a ground collision
avoidance system.
The F-16
original equipment manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, was awarded USD272 million to
install 142 F-16V aircraft upgrade kits that had already been contracted at a
cost of USD1.85 billion. In May 2016 it was reported that AIDC was building a
hangar at Taichung that could accommodate up to 24 aircraft per year going
through the process. Work will be performed in Taiwan and in the United States,
and is expected to be complete by 31 May 2022.
Original post: janes.com
Inventory
Peace
Fenghuang
In November
1992, representatives of Taiwan and the United States signed an agreement for
the sale of 150 F-16A/B aircraft (120 A-models and 30 B-models) to Taiwan under
the Peace Fenghuang Foreign Military Sales program. This large order (which
coincided with an order for 60 Mirage 2000-5 aircraft, as well as a planned
production run of 130 IDF (Indigenous Defensive Fighter) aircraft was meant to
replace Taiwan's aging fleet of F-104 and F-5E aircraft. The air force
inventory modernization program fits in a general military modernization
program, spurred by China's move to upgrade its military hardware.
The F-16s are
F-16 block 15OCU's built to MLU specifications (but designated F-16 Block 20
however). By the start of 1997, 5 aircraft had already been built and were
formally handed over to Taiwan. Total cost of the deal is supposedly USD $6
billion.
Twenty
F-16A/B Block 20 aircraft are based in te US for testing and training purposes:
18 at Luke AFB as the 21st FS Gamblers, and 2 others (1 F-16A and 1 F-16B) were
initially sent to the 416th FLTS at Edwards AFB for the Block 20 flight tests
and MMC software tests. Later the 2 were sent to Fort Worth for follow up
software tests and upgrades. As of 2006, 14 aircraft remain at Luke with also
the 2 Edwards vipers still present.
Modifications
& Armament
Modifications
The Block
20's have the improved Westinghouse AN/APG-66(V) 3 fire-control radar (157
ordered), AN/APX-111 IFF, ALR-56M advanced radar warning receivers, and the
AN/ALE-47 chaff/flare dispensers.
The cockpit
is similar to that of block 50 aircraft, with night vision goggle
compatibility, modular mission computer, GPS, Honeywell LCD color displays, and
wide-angle HUDs. All ROCAF F-16s are powered by F100-PW-220 turbofan engines.
It is worth noting that these F-16s will retain their in-flight refueling
capabilities.
Armament
& Stores
RoCAF F-16s
are equipped with AIM-7M Sparrow, AIM-9M & P4 Sidewinder and AGM-65
Maverick missiles. Recently a batch of 120 AIM-120C-5 and also 54 AGM-84
Harpoon missiles were purchased from the USA to complement the existing weapons
stock.
Instead of
Westinghouse AN/ALQ-131 ECM pods, Taiwan chose the Raytheon AN/ALQ-184(V)7 ECM
pods (80 ordered). The contract which includes 80 pods, plus support equipment
and spares, represents the first foreign sale of the AN/ALQ-184, and is worth
over $100 million.
There has
been a long standing dispute with the US over various modifications to the F-16
such as integrating the local TC2 BVR missile and HF2 anti shipping missile. So
far, the US has not allowed any modifications to be made.
Some F-16s
have been equipped with the AN/VDS-5 reconnaissance pod.
In later
years a number of new weapons were acquired and older ones upgraded. In 2003 a
complementary batch of 182 AIM-9M-2 missiles were ordered. In 2007 an
additional order for 218 AIM-120C-7 was placed together with 235 AGM-65G. Not
much later being followed by an order for 60 AGM-84L missiles and an upgrade
package to upgrade the existing stock of Harpoons from the AGM-84G to
L-standards.
Program
|
Model
|
Block
|
Qty.
|
Serials
|
Delivered
|
Peace Fenghuang
|
F-16A
|
Block 20
|
120
|
6601/6720
|
1997-2001
|
F-16B
|
Block 20
|
30
|
6801/6830
|
1997-2001
|
Source f-16net
F-16V Fighter
– Upgrade: Details
F-16 Fighting
Falcon: Details
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