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EKTAKTH UPDATE: End of the month the F-16
modernization agreement?
From VESSEL & SPACE - October 11, 2017
According to a report by the American magazine AW &
ST in its electronic version, the agreement to modernize the F-16 of the
Hellenic Air Force is expected to be signed at the end of the month. The
very well-informed US form that has strong access to the American industry
refers to an agreement worth up to $ 1.5 billion, which refers to a program
that probably includes all Fighting Falcon Block 50, Block 52 + and Block 52M.
The "signing of agreement" clearly refers to
the acceptance of Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) following the request
made by the Greek side at the beginning of 2017.
As we had recently analyzed in our P & J issue, the
offer-acceptance letter was expected to "return" in mid-September,
which apparently happened. The acceptance of the US proposal will also be
based on the program, which will be implemented through the FMS procedure, with
individual agreements then signed between the parties concerned.
Estimate is that if the framework agreement is signed at
the end of the month, then it may be announced during the imminent voyage of
the prime minister in Washington next week as high on the agenda of meeting
with US President Trump and other officials in Washington there is the subject
of defense cooperation. So open is the possibility that the announcements
will include some form of US aid to this armament program.
As mentioned above, $ 1.5 billion (and based on our past
analyzes) refer to the F-16V (GR) level update of Block 50 (30 F-16C &
7F-16D) Block 50 of the Peace Xenia program II (there is also the hybrid
"1045" not included in this number), 55 Block 52+ (37 F-16C & 18
F-16D) of the Peace Xenia III program and 30 (20 F-16C & 10 F- 16D) Block
52M Peace Xenia IV.
Recent information reported that PA was giving priority
to PXII and PXIII by leaving out PXIV. However, Lockheed Martin, in
consultation with the Greek side, has included in the Letter of Request (LOR)
earlier this year a proposal to create prototype aircraft
for Block 52 M but mainly P & A requests for all versions of
Viper in Greek service. Let's remind that for each Production Block in
a Greek service to be launched for modernization a pair of prototype
aircrafts (a car and a two-wheeled vehicle) to be subjected to
certification testing of the configuration from the old to the new
standard. Upon successful completion, the kits will be created and then
placed on the other Blocks of the same Block (plug-an-play). In this
context, Lockheed Martin proposes initially to create six prototypes, F-16C / D
Block 50/52 + / 52M, and complete testing in a "package" that
generates significant benefits: lower cost of the process compared to retrofit
an individual leg of the program (although it initially has a higher cost),
readiness to extend the program at any time without any other intermediate
delays, etc.
If the AW & ST report confirms this, it means that
all of the F-16s will be included in a program with an implementation horizon
of about 7.5 years after signing the contract.
Translated by Google – Original post: ptisidiastima.com
Elliniki Aeroporia
Hellenic Air Force - HAF
The Hellenic Air Force (or Greek Air Force) has ordered a
total of 170 F-16 aircraft, including F16CD block 30, 50, and 52 aircraft. These aircraft
are equiped with state-of-the-art weapon systems: JDAM, JSOM, and WCMD ground attack munitions; IRIS-T
and AIM-120C AMRAAM air-to-air missiles; JHMCS and NVG for
the pilots; LANTIRN navigation and
targeting system; and ASPIS electronic warfare suite.The latest order
of block 52aircraft are equiped with conformal
fuel tanks, in order to give them the range to cover Cyprus.
Source: f-16.net
F-16V Fighter – Upgrade: Details
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