Aviation
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USA
Upgrade or replace?
US Air Force may not retire F-16 for F-35 use
F-16
Public Domain
Rafael Ramos
8/24/2022
The constant delays and large costs involved in designing the F-35 can cause the USAF to delay the F-16's retirement by a few years or decades.
It is no longer news that the F-35 would replace the F-16. However, modernizing the F-16 for use for a few more years, or even decades, can be more advantageous, even though the fighter's retirement schedule has long been underway.
Replacing the F-16 with the F-35 is no longer a priority for the US Air Force. The idea of ""retrofitting around 300 units of the F-16C/D Block 40/42 and Block 50/52 was first announced in 2017 as part of the SLEP service life extension program. The upgrades could be enough to keep the plane operating until 2048.
The modernization of the F-16C/D should extend the service life by at least 50%, from 8,000 hours to 12,000 hours. Sources say that 608 F-16 fighters are ready to receive the improvements in the next few years.
However, the US Air Force said in March that it is not giving up on the idea of ""acquiring 1,763 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets.
The F-16s will receive a total of 22 upgrades. Among the changes that will be incorporated are: the addition of a central display unit, a programmable data generator and “various other hardware components important to modernize the aircraft”. the F-16 will receive the AN/APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, new electronic warfare capabilities, an advanced mission computer, and a communications suite upgrade that includes an updated Link-16 data link capability. The idea is to embed the plane in a high-speed data network.
After the changes, the F-16 will be considered a 4.5 generation fighter. While not stealth like the F-35, the US Air Force will eventually use the “Have Glass” finish. The radar-absorbing coating that has been in service for years and will replace the Viper's two-tone grey-on-gray paint scheme. It helps to reduce the jet's radar cross-section, thus increasing its survivability, even if to a limited degree.
F35 Lightning II
Public Domain
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Rafael Ramos
Aviation enthusiast from an early age, he had his first contacts with the area developing that good old habit of spending dozens of hours in front of the screens of Micrsoft Flight Simulator and other simulators. With a solid background in various technological areas, including engineering and chemistry, Rafael has rejoined aviation as editor and author of articles and materials on our portal, providing invaluable help to the dynamics and expansion of the website and the aeronautical community, bringing us the news and updates so indispensable for us to remain current in our area of operation.
   
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