The upgrade of 38 F-16 Block 50 to Viper – What about 32 Block 50

The replenishment of the three, which have been destroyed in recent years (included in the media’s 85 fighters provided for in the 38 F-16 Block 50 deal seeks the Air Force to do. He cancels LOR for partial modernization of the 341 and 347 War Squadron fighters, starts new discussions with the Americans and prepares a new written request to the US to upgrade the 38 fighters following the Viper program, which is already in full progress. While at the same time, in the uniformity logic of the air fleet, it seeks ways to bring 32 F-16 Block 30 to such a level that they can work with the remaining fighters in the modern multi-threatening environment. Aiming to achieve a total cost of less than EUR 1 billion to add to its “farretra” another 70 fighters, which will raise the roof of its fleet against the homogeneous Turkish aviation of 235 fighters with capabilities of aircraft of at least 4th generation. As already revealed by Onalert.gr, the Air Staff has now rejected the possibility of partial modernisation using systems resulting from the upgrade of Block 52, according to the original design as both costs are proportional to a Viper-level upgrade program, but aircraft will be lagging behind in critical capabilities due to the lack of AESA active electronic scanning radar. This means that the missions that will be called upon to undertake in the highly saturated air environment of the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. And while in the coming years it will be impossible to support inferior radars from their manufacturers. Let alone when in the coming years Turkish aviation will have at least 120 AESA radar fighters, while the Turkish defence industry is already attempting to build its own active electronic scanning radar. According to Onalert.gr, part of the cost of upgrading the 38 F-16 Block 50 fighters to Viper configuration can be covered both by the sale of systems, which are removed from 82 F-16 Block 52 and from what comes after their own upgrade. Already, a private company, which trades electronic systems, has expressed interest in their acquisition and the manufacturer Lockheed Martin is a potential buyer. However, the Air Staff focuses its interest in all 32 F-16 Block 30 fighters in search of a way to modernise them, so that they are an additional force with operational capabilities. What has been done in the past decades with the depreciation of French Mirage 2000 is also an example to avoid. Given that Block 30 have the potential to “write” another thousand flight hours, the point is to add the Link-16 coupling system but also a more modern radar which will be able to support new weapons such as the Harpoon anti-ployers, which are already targeted by the Air Force. Thus, in the next period, contacts with the manufacturer and USAF are expected to begin, in order to examine all the possibilities of modernising the 1930 War Squadron fighters “KERAYNOS”. By Kostas Sarika / onalert.gr