Thailand Moving to Upgrade its F-16 Fleet
Mar 15, 2012 10:16 EDT
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As Thailand invests in its future air force, which includes 4+ generation JAS-39 C/D Gripen fighters and S340 AEW air control planes, it still needs to pay attention to its 18-plane supporting fleet of 1980s-era F-16A/B Block 15s. A September 2010 request would bring those aircraft near F-16C/D Block 50 standards via a mid-life upgrade, giving the RTAF a secondary fighter force with full day/night and adverse weather capabilities…
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The AN/APG-68v9 is the standard radar for new F-16C/D aircraft. Northrop Grumman cites a 33% increase in air-to-air detection range over earlier versions, plus ground-looking synthetic aperture radar with mapping and 2-foot point target response. They also claim that the radar’s reduced weight, power, and cooling help contribute to 25%-45% lower support costs, though their baseline comparison for those costs isn’t clear.
Work will be performed in Linthicum Heights, MD, and is expected to be complete by March 3/15. The ASC/WWMK at Wright Patterson AFB, OH manages this contract (FA8615-12-C-6047).
Feb 14/11: Crash. A pair of RTAF F-16s are destroyed in a presumed collision during the 2011 Cobra Gold exercises. The jets went down in north-east Thailand, and both Thai pilots ejected and survived. The collision is presumed because the wreckage was so close, but a formal inquiry is under way.
Thailand has enough F-16s to lose these 2, and still upgrade 18 fighters. Bangkok Post.
Sept 30/10: DSCA request. The US DSCA announces [PDF] Thailand’s official request to buy components for a 3-phased, 7-year long mid-life upgrade, with each phase upgrading 6 aircraft over a 3-year period, and each phase overlapping by 1 year. The estimated cost is up to $700 million, and the prime contractor will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Fort Worth, TX. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Thailand.
F-16 upgrades will include a new Modular Mission Computer; Northrop Grumman’s AN/APG-68v9 mechanically pivoted phased array radar; BAE Systems’ AN/APX-113 Combined IFF Interrogator and Transponder, and AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispenser System; Terma’s AN/ALQ-213 Electronic Warfare Management System; plus spare and repair parts, tools and support equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and training equipment, and other U.S. Government and contractor support.
