$1.1B to Upgrade Turkish F-16 fleet

The Turkish and US governments signed a letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) on April 26, 2005 for the $1.1-billion modernization of 117 Turkish Air Force F-16s to a common avionics configuration. December 2006 saw a $635.1 million contract under that framework issued to Lockeed Martin.

The upgrade will create a common avionics configuration for the service's fleet of F-16 Block 40 and 50 aircraft. More than 200 F-16 aircraft make up the backbone of Turkey's current fighter fleet. Systems to be integrated on Turkey's upgraded F-16s include:


* The AN/APG-69(V)9 radar that is currently being installed on new F-16 Advanced Block 50/52 aircraft
* Color cockpit displays
* The Modular Mission Computer and new avionics processors
* The Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS)
* The Link 16 datalink
* New identification-friend-or-foe (IFF) transponders
* AN/AVS-9 night-vision goggles
* Upgraded navigation systems; and
* BAE Systems' AN/ALQ-178(V)5+ electronic-warfare (EW) system, mounted internally, with radar-warning and jamming capabilities for aircraft self-protection

The aircraft will also be modified to accept new missile systems of unspecified types; some potential candidates include the AIM-9X Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, and MBDA Meteor.

The deal will be conducted under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, with Lockheed Martin in Ft. Worth, TX serving as principle contractor, although the actual modification of the aircraft will be performed by TUSAS Aerospace Industries in Ankara, Turkey. TUSAS is currently the focus of a Turkish defense industry consolidation plan sponsored by the Turkish government.


Dec 22/06: Lockheed Martin Corp., in Fort Worth, TX received a $635.1 million firm-price-incentive contract modification. This effort will provide for 216 modification kits for 76 Block 50, 103 Block 40, 37 Block 30, F-16C and F-16D aircraft for the Turkish Air Force (TuAF). The effort also includes flight testing, training, technical support and sustainment activities.

This contract continues work started under an initial contract signed in July 2005, based on an agreement signed between the governments of Turkey and the United States in April 2005; at this time, total funds have been obligated. Solicitations began May 2005, negotiations were complete November 2006, and work will be complete February 2016. Work will occur primarily at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facility in Fort Worth, TX and at Tusas Aerospace Industries in Ankara, Turkey. The Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH issued the contract (FA8615-05-C-6002/PZ00002).

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