Imported Single Engine Fighter Jet Contest

[curryman]

This is like F-16 threads on PDF, endless and pointless. India does not need the F-16 because it has Tejas. F-16 is a solid aircraft -- one of the best in the world -- but air forces are phasing them out because of new technology around the corner. Why would India want such a burden? Plus, building Tejas support the whole "Made in India" mantra the NDA government is keen on.

This is not to day I don't support FDI in defence. I do. What India's defence companies need is management and marketing savvy US defence companies are known for. I think this is where the benefit lies in defence relations between India and US.

 

[WolfPack86]

'Lockheed Martin Looks To Expand, Set Up Investments In India'

 

[WolfPack86]

Why US is offering 40 year old fighter aircraft if US Consider India as their close ally they should offer F-22 Raptor. Indian Govt won't select F-16 Fighter as Defence Minister already rejected F-16 offer long time ago they wasting time. OR atleast they should offer F-35 fighter and F-18 Advance Super Hornet offer is more Sensible offer.

 

[Jangaruda]

India wud nevr buy the F-16s nd the US ought to knw that by now...

 

[WolfPack86]

Lockheed raises pitch for F-16s

Lockheed Martin chief Marillyn Hewson met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday. Ms. Hewson is the chairman, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the military aerospace giant that makes the F-16 fighter jets. The meeting comes in the backdrop of the U.S. push to sell F-16 jets to India and their manufacture in the country with technology transfer.Sources told The Hindu that a three-member team from Lockheed, including Ms. Hewson, met Mr. Jaitley in his office for 20 minutes. As reported by The Hindu earlier, the proposal for shifting the F-16 assembly line to India was discussed when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the U.S. last month. Crucial visit Underscoring the importance of Ms. Hewson’s visit were hoardings welcoming her put up across central Delhi by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and others, not a common practice for a company head. While negotiations with France have been dragging on for the direct purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said India would select another fighter by the year-end to replace the MiG-21 jets. In anticipation of a fresh contest, Lockheed with F-16, Boeing with F-18 and SAAB with Gripen have pitched in their aircraft along with offers of significant technology transfer and setting up assembly lines in India under the Make in India initiative. While F-16 is a modern fourth-generation multi-role fighter, the jet has been in service for over four decades, something that needs to be factored in by India as any fighter jet selected will be the mainstay of the Indian Air Force for another four decades.
http://idrw.org/lockheed-raises-pitch-f-16s/

 

[curryman]

Why US is offering 40 year old fighter aircraft if US Consider India as their close ally they should offer F-22 Raptor. Indian Govt won't select F-16 Fighter as Defence Minister already rejected F-16 offer long time ago they wasting time. OR atleast they should offer F-35 fighter and F-18 Advance Super Hornet offer is more Sensible offer.

First of all, India and US are not close allies. The only thing these two countries agree on is containing China. Nothing else. India is not part of some NATO-like alliance, which requires both countries to make commitments to the other's defence. Nor should both sides want this arrangement.

And why are Indians so obsessed with acquiring F-22s? If US is not even going to give it to Israel or its NATO allies, why should India be offered it? India can buy a lot of US equipment, but some technologies will be off limits, and the F-22 is clearly one of them.

F-35 will be available but not until 2025 or so. US and program partners will get their orders filled first.

What is doable, is getting the F-18 Advanced Super Hornet factory line in India. This is a superb twin-engine aircraft that will be great for coastal defence. I'm especially found of the EW-version Growler. This India will clearly need. Forget the F-16, get the F-18.

India wud nevr buy the F-16s nd the US ought to knw that by now...

Can't blame them for trying. This is what salesmanship and marketing is about. I wish India's defence units had such talents.

 

[Jangaruda]

Why US is offering 40 year old fighter aircraft if US Consider India as their close ally they should offer F-22 Raptor. Indian Govt won't select F-16 Fighter as Defence Minister already rejected F-16 offer long time ago they wasting time. OR atleast they should offer F-35 fighter and F-18 Advance Super Hornet offer is more Sensible offer.

The US wouldnt sell the raptors to any country evn its closest allies...

 

[WolfPack86]

Cohen Urges More US Sales to the UAE
ABU DHABI — Former US Defense Secretary William Cohen called for more direct US foreign military sales to the Arabian Gulf region at the IDEX Defence Conference here on Saturday.

Cohen, CEO of The Cohen Group, told Defense News that the UAE is interested in acquiring UAV systems from the US, finalizing the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense system and upgrading its F-16 Block 60 fighters to Block 61.

"The UAE need high-end capabilities," Cohen said at the conference, which was held ahead of the main IDEX show, opening on Sunday. "They are someone that we need to be working very closely with because should there be any conflicts in the region today they will be in the front lines with us."
The upgrades, requested in January 2014, would enable the aircraft to efficiently communicate with next generation fighters such as the F-35 and F-22, as well as streamline operational effectiveness in an international coalition, according to analysts.

According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the UAE has requested the purchase of 30 F-16 Block 61 aircraft and the upgrade of its existing F-16 Block 60 fleet at an estimated cost of $270 million.

At times, Cohen said, sales to the region are held back due to "bureaucratic inertia."

"You can get the Department o Defense to sign off on, you can get Commerce [Department] to do so also, but then State [Department] would say no, at other times you would get Commerce to say no, so it's part of the bureaucratic inertia and having to overcome that," he said

He added "We do not have to worry about end use and whether they can be trusted and maintain control."

He said that the case has to be made to policy makers that if they want to continue this relationship, the UAE and gulf partners can go to "the Russians, Chinese and other suppliers."

"We have to maintain this relationship and we have to work with them and see that they are a valuable partner and ally," he added.
http://www.defensenews.com/story/de...ohen-urges-more-us-sales-to-the-uae/23792253/

 

[WolfPack86]

What is F-16 Block 61 Fighter Jet ?

 

[WolfPack86]

Falcon flourishes in the desert [IDX15D1]
Having evaluated and rejected the Dassault Rafale and the Euro-fighter Typhoon, and having been informed that the existing order backlog alone would keep the UAE from obtaining the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter until after 2020, a solution to the UAE Air Force and Air Defence’s long-term requirement for a ‘next-generation fighter’ to replace the Mirage 2000 from 2018 seems as far away as ever.

In the meantime, the UAE is expanding its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16E/F Desert Falcons through the acquisition of 30 new Block 61 F-16E/F aircraft. The 79 surviving Block 60 F-16E/F Desert Falcons will be upgraded to a similar ‘Block 60+’ standard.

Lockheed Martin has thus far refused to comment on the Block 61 and Block 60+ configurations, but the new-build Block 61 is believed to be an evolutionary upgrade of the original Block 60, with diminishing manufacturing sources and obsolescence issues addressed, and some interoperability enhancements.

Block 61 aircraft are being purchased via a direct commercial sale, rather than using the more usual foreign military sale (FMS) process, so there was no requirement for the usual Defense Security Cooperation Agency notification of the aircraft sale to Congress, though Congress was notified of an associated FMS sale of training, logistics support and support equipment, weapons and other items to the UAE, on 23 January 2014.

Entering front-line service in 2005, the Block 60 F-16E/F has been called “the most advanced F-16 variant in the world”, and is described as being “a half-generation ahead of the F-16 C/D Block 50/52+ aircraft that form the backbone of the US Air Force.”

The aircraft is fitted with a Northrop Grumman AN/APG-80 AESA (active electronically scanned antenna) radar, which made it the first F-16 variant to be fitted with an AESA array, and is still the only in-service F-16 version with an ‘e-scan’ radar.

The introduction of the Block 60 F-16 made the UAE AF&AD the first fighter force outside the USA to field this revolutionary radar technology.

The Block 60 also has provision for the conformal fuel tanks associated with later Block 50/52 aircraft, giving it a mission radius of 1,650km – a 40 per cent increase compared with non-CFT-equipped F-16 variants.

While the USA does not normally export the vital software source codes required to program the electronic warfare and radar systems on US-built fighters, in the case of the Block 60 F-16, the USA provided “object codes”, which allow new mission data to be added to the F-16E/F’s threat library autonomously.

This has allowed the UAE to refine and improve the Block 60 aircraft exponentially, and to keep it abreast of developing threats. Lockheed did integrate the UAE’s MBDA Al Hakim rocketboosted glide bomb on the F-16E/F, but the US State Department refused to allow integration of the MBDA Black Shaheen cruise missile (a derivative of the Storm Shadow used on UAE Mirage 2000s). This 51 was because the Black Shaheen was assumed to have a range of more than 300km, which is the current range limit for cruise missiles under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Instead, the USA is providing AGM-84 SLAM-ER missiles and the AGM-154C Joint Stand Off Weapon.
http://www.janes.com/article/49208/falcon-flourishes-in-the-desert-idx15d1

 

[WolfPack86]

What is F-16 Block 61 Fighter Jet ? Can it efficiently communicate with next generation fighters such as the F-35 and F-22?

 

[Zebra]

What is F-16 Block 61 Fighter Jet ?

May be future upgrade for F-16 Block 60 aircrafts.

Can it efficiently communicate with next generation fighters such as the F-35 and F-22?

I don't think so.
-------------------------------------------------------

Anyway, in all F-16 variants, F-16 V is better.

 

[BON PLAN]

Falcon flourishes in the desert [IDX15D1]
Having evaluated and rejected the Dassault Rafale and the Euro-fighter Typhoon, and having been informed that the existing order backlog alone would keep the UAE from obtaining the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter until after 2020, a solution to the UAE Air Force and Air Defence’s long-term requirement for a ‘next-generation fighter’ to replace the Mirage 2000 from 2018 seems as far away as ever.

In the meantime, the UAE is expanding its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16E/F Desert Falcons through the acquisition of 30 new Block 61 F-16E/F aircraft. The 79 surviving Block 60 F-16E/F Desert Falcons will be upgraded to a similar ‘Block 60+’ standard.

Lockheed Martin has thus far refused to comment on the Block 61 and Block 60+ configurations, but the new-build Block 61 is believed to be an evolutionary upgrade of the original Block 60, with diminishing manufacturing sources and obsolescence issues addressed, and some interoperability enhancements.

Block 61 aircraft are being purchased via a direct commercial sale, rather than using the more usual foreign military sale (FMS) process, so there was no requirement for the usual Defense Security Cooperation Agency notification of the aircraft sale to Congress, though Congress was notified of an associated FMS sale of training, logistics support and support equipment, weapons and other items to the UAE, on 23 January 2014.

Entering front-line service in 2005, the Block 60 F-16E/F has been called “the most advanced F-16 variant in the world”, and is described as being “a half-generation ahead of the F-16 C/D Block 50/52+ aircraft that form the backbone of the US Air Force.”

The aircraft is fitted with a Northrop Grumman AN/APG-80 AESA (active electronically scanned antenna) radar, which made it the first F-16 variant to be fitted with an AESA array, and is still the only in-service F-16 version with an ‘e-scan’ radar.

The introduction of the Block 60 F-16 made the UAE AF&AD the first fighter force outside the USA to field this revolutionary radar technology.

The Block 60 also has provision for the conformal fuel tanks associated with later Block 50/52 aircraft, giving it a mission radius of 1,650km – a 40 per cent increase compared with non-CFT-equipped F-16 variants.

While the USA does not normally export the vital software source codes required to program the electronic warfare and radar systems on US-built fighters, in the case of the Block 60 F-16, the USA provided “object codes”, which allow new mission data to be added to the F-16E/F’s threat library autonomously.

This has allowed the UAE to refine and improve the Block 60 aircraft exponentially, and to keep it abreast of developing threats. Lockheed did integrate the UAE’s MBDA Al Hakim rocketboosted glide bomb on the F-16E/F, but the US State Department refused to allow integration of the MBDA Black Shaheen cruise missile (a derivative of the Storm Shadow used on UAE Mirage 2000s). This 51 was because the Black Shaheen was assumed to have a range of more than 300km, which is the current range limit for cruise missiles under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Instead, the USA is providing AGM-84 SLAM-ER missiles and the AGM-154C Joint Stand Off Weapon.
http://www.janes.com/article/49208/falcon-flourishes-in-the-desert-idx15d1

This story of a new batch for UAE is quite so old than the purchase of Rafale by India ....

 

[Bahamut]

Some thing similar to F 2 like project that Japan has some change ,unless LM offer that ,there is no chance of winning

 

[BON PLAN]

According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the UAE has requested the purchase of 30 F-16 Block 61 aircraft and the upgrade of its existing F-16 Block 60 fleet at an estimated cost of $270 million.

270 USD million per F16 bk61 !!! (as it is not possible it's the price for 30 units...) Who said US planes are cheap ?

 

[WolfPack86]

Japanese Mitsubishi F-2 Fighter Jet

 

[WolfPack86]

Meet the Japanese Mitsubishi F-2 Fighter Jet

Japanese Mitsubishi F-2 getting ready to take off from a Taiwanese Air Force Base
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force maintains a capable multi-role performer in the F-16-derived Mitsubishi F-2. The F-2 was to be Japan's wholly indigenous multi-role fighter designed to replace the aging fleet of Mitsubishi F-1s for air defense, ground attack and maritime strike roles. Design work started in 1980's under the FS-X designation, but the US moved in with enough political and economic pressure to force Japan into abandoning it in favor of continued support for American-originated military equipment.

The JASDF focused on procurement of the Lockheed F-16C Block 40 "Fighting Falcon" multi-role platform. The aircraft was modified to suit Japanese military requirements with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries being the lead company and Lockheed remaining the primary US contributor with a 60/40 production sharing arrangement between Japan and the United States. General Electric, Kawasaki, Honeywell, Raytheon, NEC, Hazeltine, and Kokusai Electric are among the primary component sub-contractors. Lockheed Martin supplies the aft fuselage, leading-edge slats, stores management system, a large portion of wing boxes.
DEVELOPMENT

In October 1987, Japan selected the F-16 as the basis of design to replace the outdated Mitsubishi F-1. The F-2 program was controversial, because the unit cost of development costs are included, proved to be 4 times greater than an F-16 Block 50/52 , and in which not the expenses include research and development.
The initial flight of the F-2 was the 7th October of 1995 and JASDF ordered a total of 141 aircraft, which was quickly reduced to 130 fighters due to budgetary constraints, it was planned to be inducted before 1999; but structural problems led to the service entrance only in 2000. In 2004 a further cut reduced the project to 98 units, including prototypes. The total result of the program was essentially a plane the size and weight of an F-15 with only one engine. General Electric provided the turbofan engines.
Eighteen F-2 based on the Air Base Matsushima ( Miyagi Prefecture ) were swept away by the tsunami of March 11, 2011 .
Design

Despite its obvious appearance to the America fighter, the Mitsubishi F-2 incorporates enough new features and local technology to consider it a highly modified Japanese variant of the F-16. The F-2, at its core, is a single-seat, single-engine mount powered by the successful General Electric GE F100-series turbofan with afterburner feature. The fuselage, though mimicking the American F-16C in general contour and shape, has evolved to become some 25% larger than the original with more advanced composites introduced to its construction. The fuselage has been lengthened and a three-piece framed cockpit selected over the large -area glass version on the F-16. The tail unit has been given an increase in surface area while the intake is of a larger dimension.
Japanese engineers have developed a local fly-by-wire control software solution. The front radome houses a Mitsubishi-brand Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar while the cockpit retains Head-Up Display (HUD), color Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) and Hands-on-Throttle-and-Stick (HOTAS) control arrangement. A drogue parachute assists in providing short airfield landings.

Differences between F-2 and F-16:

• 25% more wing area.
• Use of composite materials to reduce the overall weight and electromagnetic radar signature.
• A longer nose and wide to accommodate a radar such as "phased-array".
• Train largest landing.
• Larger horizontal stabilizer.
• Making bigger air.
• Board computers, systems and other elements of attack avionics developed by NEC and Kokusai Electric
• Stealth potential capacities to combat stealth missions
• Dome 3-room cabin.
• Sleeps four ASW, ASM-1 and ASM-2, four MEAs, additional fuel tanks missiles
• .http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2015/05/idn-take-meet-japanese-mitsubishi-f-2.html

 

[WolfPack86]

Well if Lockheed Martin offer Japanese Mitsubishi F-2 Fighter Jet kind of completely Indian made F-16 Fighter Jet it will be very good for India.

 

[Zebra]

http://www.codeonemagazine.com/f16_article.html?item_id=181

F-16 modified with diverterless supersonic inlet, or DSI, developed for the Joint Strike Fighter program. At high aircraft speeds through supersonic, the bump in the inlet works with the forward-swept inlet cowl to redirect unwanted boundary layer airflow away from the inlet, essentially doing the job of heavier, more complex, and more costly diverters used by current fighters. The flight test program consisted of twelve flights flown in nine days in December 1996.

 

[WolfPack86]

Israel's newest F-16I Sufa fighter jets

F-16I Soufa Multirole Fighter, Israel
The F-16I Soufa (Storm) is a modified variant of the F-16D block 50 and 52 fighter and ground attack aircraft, with the avionics and weapons systems capability modified to meet the requirements of the Israeli Air Force. Israel ordered 50 F-16I aircraft in 2001 and signed the agreement for an optional additional 52 aircraft in September 2001. The Israeli Air Force has selected the F16I in a two-seat configuration only.

The production programme, Peace Marble V, is the fifth acquisition of F-16s. It increased the number of Israeli Air Force F-16 aircraft to 362, giving the IAF the largest fleet of F-16 fighters apart from the USA.

The F16I Soufa made its maiden flight in December 2003. The first two aircraft were delivered to the IAF at the Ramon Air Base, in February 2004. Deliveries were completed at a rate of about two a month over four years, with final delivery in 2009. The 102nd aircraft was delivered in 2009.

There is a significant level of airframe co-production and avionics component production in Israel for the Soufa and for other variants of the F-16. IAI and Cyclone Aviation Products Ltd in Carmiel manufacture the ventral fins, rudders, horizontal stabilisers and engine access doors. The aircraft are assembled at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facility in Fort Worth, Texas.

In September 2009, the IAF temporarily grounded the F-16I from training operations after a jet experienced engine failure.

F-16I Sousa fighter design
The F-16I is fitted with a pair of removable conformal fuel tanks provided by IAI. The conformal fuel tanks (CFT), holding 450gal of extra fuel, are mounted on both sides of the upper fuselage. The very low drag configuration CFTs have a very small effect on the aircraft's agility, handling quality and flight limits. The use of the conformal tanks increases the aircraft's mission range and combat endurance.

The fitting of conformal tanks makes the two wing inner store stations normally used for external tanks (stations 6 and 4, each rated at 4,500lb capacity) available for weapon carriage, doubling the aircraft's air-to-ground weapons capacity.
The F16I is fitted with a dorsal avionics compartment. The first version produced with the dorsal compartment was the Israeli two-seat block 30 F-16D aircraft, produced in the late 1980s. The large dorsal compartment extends from the rear of the cockpit to the fin and houses additional avionics systems, chaff and flare dispensers and the aircraft's in-flight refuelling receptacle.
Cockpit
The front cockpit is for the pilot and the rear cockpit is configured for the weapons systems operator or, with the change of a single switch, for a pilot instructor.

"The F-16I Soufa fighter aircraft are assembled at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facility in
Fort Worth, Texas."
The Elbit Dash IV display and sight helmet system enables the pilot to aim the weapon by looking the target. Dash IV shortens the lock-on procedure time for engagements. The helmet measures the pilot's line of sight to the target so the sensors, avionics and weapons are slaved to the target. Dash IV improves situation awareness by helping the pilots to visually detect targets at high angles off the nose of the aircraft, providing critical information in any direction the pilot looks.

The Soufa is fitted with a wide angle head up display from Elop and high definition (120ppi) 4in x 4in colour multi-function displays supplied by Astronautics CA of Petah Tikva, Israel.

Other new features include a colour moving map display, digital video recording equipment, cockpit lighting and external strip lighting compatible with night vision goggles and a high capacity data transfer set.

F-16I Soufa fighter avionics
The Soufa has an advanced avionics suite including general avionics computer, colour display processors and interfaces all produced by Elbit Systems.

The communications systems include a Rafael UHF/VHF radio and an HF radio, Elta satellite communications and an IAI integrated tactical video data link.
The navigation system includes a combined ring laser gyro inertial navigation system and global positioning system (RLGINS/GPS) and a digital terrain system. Rafael developed the algorithms for the digital terrain system.

In June 2008, Elbit systems supplied the F-16I simulator system that is compatible with the aircraft avionics and cockpit.

Weapon systems
Elbit supplied the aircraft's central mission computer, the signal processing unit for the displays and the stores management systems. RADA Electronics Industries in Netanya, Israel, and Smiths Aerospace, USA, have developed the aircraft's data acquisition system with an advanced digital data server and data recording system. Israel Military Industries supplies most of the weapons pylons and racks and the external fuel tanks.

The mission data and video is downloaded to a ground debriefing station provided by RADA. The system has potential for three-dimensional, multi-aircraft mission creation.

"The navigation system includes a combined ring laser gyro inertial navigation system and global positioning system."
The Rafael Litening II targeting and navigation pod is equipped with a third generation forward looking infrared (FLIR), charge-coupled device (CCD) television, laser spot tracker and rangefinder and infrared marker. The system enables the pilot to detect, identify, acquire and track ground targets for the delivery of conventional and precision guided weapons, such as laser guided or GPS guided bombs.

The aircraft is also equipped with the Lockheed Martin LANTIRN navigation pod which provides night navigation and all-weather automatic terrain following.
Air-to-air missiles
The air-to-air missiles are the short range Python 4 and Python 5 and the short range to beyond visual range radar-guided Derby, both supplied by Rafael.

The all-weather Derby has an active radar seeker, look down / shoot down capability, lock on before or after launch, and programmable electronic counter countermeasures (ECCM). The lock on before launch mode is deployed for tight dogfights.

The F16I is equipped with the Rafael Python 5 air-to-air missile. The Python 5 is capable of lock on after launch and uses imaging infrared guidance. The new seeker uses a dual wavelength focal plane array and is equipped with robust infrared counter countermeasures capability.

Air-to-ground systems
The air-to-surface weapons are carried on the two pairs of inboard underwing stations and include anti-ship missiles, anti-radiation missiles, laser guided bombs, GPS guided bombs and Israeli Military Industries (IMI) runway attack munitions. The F-16 aircraft has been used in carriage trials of IMI's STAR-1 anti-radiation weapon which is in the development phase.

F-16I Soufa fighter countermeasures
The electronic warfare suite, being supplied by Elisra, includes radar warning receivers, missile approach warners and jamming systems, including the Elisra SPS 3000 self-protection jammer which is installed in the large spine. The chaff and flare dispenser is supplied by Rokar.

F-16I radar
The aircraft has the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-68(V)9 multi-mode radar, which has five times the processing speed and ten times the memory capacity of the previous APG-68 radars on the F-16. Elta is involved in the co-production of the radar.
The modes of operation include high resolution synthetic aperture (SAR) ground mapping and terrain following. The radar provides autonomous, all-weather, stand-off precision weapon delivery. Air-to-air modes include range while search, air combat mode, multiple target track while scan, cluster resolution, single target tracking and target illumination pulse Doppler tracking. The radar increases the air-to-air detection range by 30% compared to earlier generation systems.

Engines
The Soufa is powered by the Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-229 increased performance engine (IPE). This new, more powerful engine allows the aircraft a maximum take-off weight of 23,582kg. The aircraft is also fitted with heavyweight landing gear.
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/f-16i/