BACK to NEWS 2002

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics are to benefit from Israel's decision to exercises the option for 52 additional F-16I aircraft under the Peace Marble V programme. This option of the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract is worth $1.3 billion out of a total programme value of approximately $2 billion.

"It (this contract) completes the deal for a very important customer, it extends the firm F-16 production base through 2008 and it boosts our firm orders for 2001. This buy provides an excellent base for future F-16 sales and provides a solid bridge to JSF production at our Fort Worth facility,'' said Dain M. Hancock, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.

The aircraft will follow the same two-seat F-16I configuration as the original 50 aircraft ordered in the Peace Marble V programme, which began in January 2000. This brings the total of F-16Is on order to 102, the first of which is due in 2003. All aircraft will be assembled at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facility in Fort Worth, but there will be significant co-production of airframe and avionics components in Israel.

The F-16 backlog continues to increase with a firm mark of 301 aircraft as of the end of 2001. In September of this year, an FMS contract was signed for the Greece III option of 10 Block 52+ aircraft. Negotiations over requests from Chile and Oman for new F-16s continue to progress, while Italy has signed a lease for 34 inventory USAF F-16A/Bs.

The US military has notified Congress that it may sell to Austria 30 F-16 fighter jets as well as missiles and other related equipment in a deal that could be worth as much as $1.74 billion.

Austria has requested the fighters, three spare engines, 13 various AMRAAM missiles, 15 sidewinder practice or training missiles, and other support equipment, the Defense Security Co-operation Agency said in a statement.

The primary contractors include Lockheed Martin Corp., General Electric Co., United Technologies Corp.'s Pratt and Whitney unit and Raytheon. "There will be no adverse impact on US defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale," the agency said. "This proposed sale will not impact regional military balance of power."

The Austrian Air Force uses Saab fighter aircraft but the US military said those fighters are expensive to operate and maintain and the sale would help Austria meet training requirements starting in early 2003.

Also included in the proposed deal would be simulators, logistics support, ammunition, spare and repair parts, flight test instrumentation, personnel training and training equipment.

Additionally, the sale would require the assignment of about 12 US government representatives and 12 contractors for up to four years once the fighter jets have been delivered so they can provide programme support, the US military said.

Lockheed Martin Training is demonstrating its four-ship F-16 Training System at the Interservice/Industry Training Simulation and Education Conference in Orlando this week. F-16 pilots will fly multiple types of missions through a visual database that displays imagery at up to one-half meter resolution.

"Integration of a high-fidelity F-16 cockpit with three role player stations will give conference attendees a hands-on opportunity to test basic elements of the distributed mission training (DMT) paradigm now taking shape at US Air Force bases," said Rich Roop, director-simulation and training business development at Lockheed Martin in Akron. "Pilots will fly various four-ship missions or force-on-force missions to show the versatility of our system design and how we apply the DMT philosophy to training."

Three role-player stations with individual VisionStation visual systems join the new high-fidelity F-16 simulation device to make up a four-ship demonstration unit. The role-player stations have basic flight controls-stick and throttle-and communications connectivity with the support aircraft as a mission is configured.

After a mission is completed, pilots use the debrief station to review the mission from any point in time, from beginning to end. "The timeline feature lets pilots and instructors choose the exact points in a recorded mission that they want to evaluate. It allows specific lessons to be reinforced while the mission is still fresh in participants' minds," Roop said. "This quick replay from any point in the mission provides a responsive feature that enhances the overall effectiveness of the training system. This is one feature, among the many, that separates our training solution from others in the industry."

The US Air Force expects to receive delivery of a one-ship Mission Training System at Mountain Home Air Base, Idaho and of a four-ship Mission Training System at Shaw Air Base, S.C., in early 2002.

Elbit Systems' subsidiary, El-Op Electro-optics Industries (El-Op), will supply Lockheed Martin with Head-Up Displays (HUDs) for the Israeli Air Force's (IAF) F-16I aircraft. Lockheed Martin's order is expected to exceed $7 million for deliveries over a four-year period.

The supply of the HUDs for the IAF F-16I aircraft is in addition to Elbit Systems' overall participation in Lockheed Martin's F-16s programmes. As previously announced by the Company, Elbit Systems is expected to supply equipment to Lockheed Martin for F-16 aircraft of the IAF and other customers in the overall amount of approximately $140 million.

El-Op's Wide Field Of View (WFOV) HUD system for the IAF F-16I aircraft uses new technologies, and is based upon the company's previous experience in the design and production of more than 2000 Head-Up Displays for numerous types of aircraft.

Chief Executive Officer of Elbit Systems, Joseph Ackerman, said, " We believe that El-Op's HUD presence in the F-16I programme will allow further expansion of our F-16 business to include other customers of Lockheed Martin.''

WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon successfully launched a joint-air-to-surface standoff missile Nov. 20.

"This successful launch clears the way for a low-rate initial production decision," said Terry Little, JASSM program manager.

During a flight test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., an F-16 from the 46th Test Wing launched the JASSM while cruising at about 500 mph at an altitude of 15,000 feet. The weapon separated cleanly from the aircraft, deployed its wings and tail section, and ignited its engine at the proper altitude to begin a 50-mile dash toward the target array on the desert floor.

The JASSM missile impacted within a lethal distance of the mobile radar target and the warhead exploded. All systems, including the engine, guidance, and fuze-arming, performed flawlessly, officials said.

The JASSM is a 2,250-pound cruise missile which carries a 1,000-pound class, dual-purpose warhead. The warhead is capable of destroying soft and distributed surface targets or deeply buried, hardened structures. It can fly in adverse weather, day or night, from standoff ranges well beyond enemy air defenses. The range is classified, but officials said it is beyond 200 nautical miles. Its stealth characteristics and on-board anti-jam countermeasure components make it extremely difficult to defend against.

The Air Force originally planned to buy 2,400 JASSMs, but there are ongoing efforts to greatly increase that number. Current plans call for the missile to be carried on the F-16, B-1B Lancer, B-2 Spirit and B-52 Stratofortress.

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFPN) -- Pilot spatial disorientation was the likely cause of an F-16 Fighting Falcon crash 35 miles southeast of Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, June 12, an Air Force investigator said. The pilot was killed in the crash.

Based on evidence obtained during the accident investigation, Brig. Gen. Dale Waters, board president, said the cause of the mishap was the pilot's failure to maintain spatial orientation.

Waters noted two significant contributing factors to the mishap as a result of his investigation: channelized attention and incapacitating spatial disorientation.

During a two-ship formation flying a night training mission, as both planes began rolling left turns, the mishap pilot apparently failed to check his attitude references because his attention was channeled on watching his wingman, an instructor pilot, through his night vision goggles. This caused him to unknowingly place his aircraft in a steep dive. Erratic and ineffective flight control inputs during the mishap pilot's fatal dive provide evidence that he was experiencing incapacitating spatial disorientation.

On September 4 Israel signed an amendment to a letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) with the US government for 52 more Lockheed Martin F-16I fighters. This agreement follows the announcement at the Paris Air Show of Israel's intent to exercise an option for more F-16s. These aircraft are in addition to the 50 F-16I aircraft ordered in January 2000.

The agreement covers aircraft, logistics support and training, and US government programme management and services under the Foreign Military Sales arrangement. Total programme value for the option is approximately $2 billion, and Lockheed Martin's portion is approximately $1.3 billion for only the aircraft.

''This option extends the F-16 production base to 2009, which not only provides a base for future F-16 sales, but also provides a solid bridge to the possible JSF production at our Fort Worth facility.'' said Dain M. Hancock, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.

The F-16I aircraft are of the same two-seat configuration as the original Peace Marble V programme. Many of the electronic systems are being developed and produced in Israel. The aircraft will be powered by F100-PW-229 engine. Production deliveries of the optional aircraft will dovetail with those of the original Peace Marble V programme.

This is Israel's sixth acquisition of F-16s, and it possesses the largest fleet of F-16s outside the United States. There have now been 47 follow-on buys of new F-16s by 14 countries.

Lockheed Martin has completed the first phase of flight testing of its new conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) for its F-16 multirole fighter.

Flight testing with aerodynamic shapes was conducted on an F-16C at Eglin Air Force Base, in Florida, from March through August. A total of 24 test flights and 65 flight test hours were accomplished, and testing involved loads, flutter, and stability and control.

"Lockheed Martin has made a substantial investment in CFTs for our advanced F-16 versions," said Donald W. Jones, vice president of F-16 Programmes. "We have done this in response to international market demands for more range and payload. CFTs have become a very popular option in recent orders and new business pursuits."

Lockheed Martin began F-16 flight demonstration of an initial CFT shape in 1994 to investigate performance and handling quality characteristics. Subsequent wind tunnel testing led to the current external lines, which were initially validated in flight testing of high angle-of-attack handling characteristics at Edwards AFB, Calif., last year.

"The flying qualities of the F-16 with CFTs are essentially unchanged when compared to a non-CFT equipped airplane," said Stephen W. Barter, chief F-16 test pilot and company CFT project pilot. "For most combat flight conditions, it's as if the CFTs are not even there. The surest way for me to tell if CFTs are installed is to look over my shoulder."

"The CFTs have very little adverse affect on the F-16's renowned performance," said Maj. Timothy S. McDonald, US Air Force project pilot for CFT testing at Eglin. "The aircraft retains its full 9-g capability and flight envelope with the CFTs installed. The drag impact is very small -- less than one percent in combat configuration at cruise conditions."

A shipset of two CFTs provide a total of 440 US gal, or approximately 3,000 lbs of additional fuel for the F-16. The extra fuel can significantly extend mission range, time on station or time engaged in combat. This range/persistence enhancement is very valuable for countries that do not have tankers for aerial refuelling. For countries that do have tankers, CFTs can reduce the tanker offload demand and extend the fighter's penetration distance.

CFTs also increase the F-16's payload flexibility. For medium range air- to-surface missions, CFTs can eliminate the need for wing tanks. This allows doubling the F-16's primary weapon capacity and flying with two, rather than one, types of large weapons in a balanced configuration.

F-16 CFTs are located on the upper fuselage surface, which significantly reduces stores recertification requirements and the associated costs. The upper surface arrangement allows the CFTs to be relatively light weight because nothing is suspended from them. The CFTs do not interfere with daily inspections and servicing and can be removed or installed in about two hours.

The test aircraft has been returned to Fort Worth and has been fitted with the first functional set of CFTs. Ground systems testing of fuel transfer will begin this month, and functional flight testing is scheduled to begin in late October. Flight testing will be conducted at both Fort Worth and Eglin.

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- Investigators determined engine failure led to an F-16 Fighting Falcon crash on the Melrose Bombing Range in New Mexico on March 21. The aircraft, assigned to the 27th Fighter Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., was destroyed. The pilot experienced minor injuries after ejecting from the aircraft.

Air Combat Command's accident investigation report released Aug. 30 said there was clear and convincing evidence complete failure of the No. 3 main thrust bearing led ultimately to engine failure.

Investigators also found two substantial factors that directly contributed to the accident. First, a crew chief failed to perform a proper pre-flight maintenance inspection. Second, maintenance personnel failed to identify a contaminated pump filter in the aircraft engine oil system.

The accident occurred during a four-ship low altitude intercept-training sortie.

Honeywell has been chosen by the U. S. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command to provide a colour display system for their Block 25/30/32 F-16 aircraft.

The initial order calls for hardware, engineering equipment and services to support Air Force development a colour operational flight programme for the Block 30 aircraft. The contract value will be approximately $3 million. Upgrades of over 400 aircraft will begin in mid-2003 with a potential contract value of more than $60 million.

Honeywell's colour display upgrade can be installed in F-16 Block 30 aircraft without modification to existing aircraft wiring. This allows flight-line installation and eliminates the need for time-consuming and costly upgrades at a depot facility. The new monitor will display colour coded tactical data providing pilots improved situational awareness.

"Honeywell's colour display system will save the services millions of dollars in depot costs and will return an upgraded aircraft to flight status in one day," said Bob Marrah, Vice President and General Manager of Honeywell Defense Avionics Systems."This system will give the Guard and Reserve display commonality with US Air Force F-16 aircraft, further reducing lifecycle costs for the services."

Lockheed Martin delivered the first four aircraft of its sixth F-16 programme to the Egyptian Air Force (EAF) at Gianaklis Air Base on 19 August.

The F-16s were produced earlier this year in the United States and are the first of the 24-aircraft Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme named Peace Vector VI. The aircraft were ferried to Egypt in June and underwent thorough receiving inspections. A total of 10 aircraft have been produced thus far. Four more aircraft will be ferried in early September, and the remainder of the aircraft will be delivered this year and in early 2002.

The EAF's six separate orders of F-16s puts them second only to the US Air Force in repeat buys. The EAF already operates similar F-16s and their Fighter Weapons Training School at Gianaklis AB. Egypt received its first F-16s in 1982 and has ordered a total of 220 aircraft, giving them the fourth largest fleet of F-16s in the world.

The Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Air Force commented they were very pleased with the performance and maintainability of their F-16s and that the F-16 was the backbone of EAF's modernisation program.

"This programme challenged all parties to find creative ways to reduce lead times, and we were successful in meeting the accelerated delivery schedule. The Peace Vector programmes continue to be regarded by the US government as exemplary FMS programmes," said Donald W. Jones, vice president of F-16 Programmes at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.

The US Air Force has selected Lockheed Martin's Sniper XR (eXtended Range) system as the winner of its Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) competition. This 7-year contract with potential value in excess of $843 million marks the first deployment of 3rd generation targeting pods for the US Air Force. The contract provides for up to 522 pods and associated equipment, spares, and support of the F-16 for both the Air Force and the Air National Guard.

Sniper XR pods will initially equip the US Air Force's F-16CJ Block 50 aircraft and the Air National Guard's F-16 Block 30 aircraft. Follow-on acquisitions are destined for the F-16 Block 40 and F-15E fleets, as well as many interested international customers, bringing product potential to several billion dollars. The scheduled contract delivery date is January 2003.

A precision targeting system in a single, lightweight, pod, Sniper XR is designed for current and future fighter aircraft. Incorporating a high-resolution, mid-wave 3rd generation FLIR, a dual-mode laser and a CCD- TV along with a laser spot tracker and a laser marker, Sniper improves target detection/identification. The advanced image processing algorithms, combined with rock-steady stabilisation techniques, deliver three times the performance of the best systems in service today.

Fully compatible with the latest standoff weaponry, Sniper provides automatic tracking and laser designation of tactical size targets via real-time imagery presented on cockpit displays. Likewise, the supersonic, low-observable design results in a substantial reduction in drag and weight.

Demonstrating exceptional stability and pointing accuracy in US Air Force flight tests, Sniper performed very well throughout the entire F-16 flight envelope, including the supersonic region. Dan Fischoff, Lockheed Martin programme director, said, "Absolutely no other targeting system can match Sniper's performance, capabilities, and features. Sniper and its leap-ahead technology represent the future for the precision strike mission. The system is simple to maintain, inexpensive, and tremendously capable. And it is ready now."

An additional feature of Sniper is its aircraft compatibility. Capable of being embedded or podded, Sniper technology is incorporated into Lockheed Martin's Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) design. The executive vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's (JSF) program, Tom Burbage, added, "The US Air Force's selection of Sniper XR for the Advanced Targeting Pod programme is a real benefit to the Lockheed Martin JSF team. The JSF Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) is highly common with Sniper, and we are pleased that the Air Force has recognised the benefits of our high- performance modular EO system for its fighter aircraft."

L-3 Communications' Link Simulation and Training division has been awarded a one-year, $7.4 million contract for the F-16 Aircrew Training Devices (ATD) program.

The F-16 ATD program, part of the US Air Force's Training Systems Acquisition II programme, will consolidate the operation, maintenance and support of F-16 aircrew and maintenance trainers currently being used by the US Air Force, Air National Guard and foreign militaries world-wide. Under terms of the agreement, the Air Force can exercise nine additional one-year options that could grow the programme to approximately $74 million in value.

The contract requires Link to provide on-site contractor logistics support teams at various US Air Force and Air National Guard training locations in the United States and overseas. Link will be providing technical on-call support for fielded F-16 Unit Training Device (UTD) pilot simulators and maintenance trainers located at bases world-wide.

During the first three years of the programme Link also will be making upgrades to currently-fielded F-16 Weapons Systems Trainers (WST). These Link-built simulators, delivered between 1982 and 1994, are used to provide high-fidelity pilot mission training. In making these modifications, each F-16 WST will have its existing mainframe computers, visual systems and interface electronics replaced by Link's advanced personal computer host and image generation systems. Integration of this new computing technology will substantially enhance simulator performance, reduce system maintenance complexity and improve trainer reliability.

A Link team also will operate and support the F-16 ATD program's Training System Support Centre (TSSC), which will be located at Hill AFB. TSSC management, engineering and technical personnel will be responsible for maintaining trainer configuration and concurrency in line with modifications made to F-16 aircraft. In addition, the TSSC team will provide both enhancement engineering and software baseline management. The TSSC also will serve as a central repository for existing visual system databases, the computer generated imagery that pilots view as they fly a simulator, as well as the site for development of new databases.

"This contract award now positions Link as the single point of contact for support of all currently-fielded F-16 trainers, consolidating six separate sustainment contracts for F-16 training support into one,'' said David Williams, Link Simulation and Training's vice president for training services programmes. "This consolidation will enable Link to provide significant synergies across all F-16 maintenance and aircrew training support requirements.''

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (AFPN) -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed July 18 near Batman, Turkey.

The pilot, 1st Lt. Michael A. Nelson, Jr., of the 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy, ejected and is uninjured. He was picked up in a combined Turkish Jandarma/U.S. Air Force pararescue effort and returned here.

The aircraft, assigned to Operation Northern Watch, was en route to a mission enforcing the northern no-fly zone over Iraq.

A board of qualified officers will investigate the accident.

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) -- An F-16 chase aircraft here crashed July 17 killing two people.

Maj. Aaron George, a pilot with the 416th Flight Test Squadron here, and Judson Brohmer, a subcontractor aerial photographer supporting Lockheed Martin at the time of the incident, were killed.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon was conducting photo and safety chase support for a separate F-16's test mission when it crashed at about 7 a.m. nearly 30 miles east of China Lake Naval Air Warfare Center, Calif.

A board of officers will investigate the accident.

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AFPN) -- Capt. Mitchell Bulmann, an Air Force pilot stationed at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., was killed July 6 when his F-16CJ fighter crashed about 40 miles east of Charleston S.C.

Bulmann, from the 77th Fighter Squadron here, was participating in an air-to-air training mission when his plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.

A board of officers will investigate the accident.

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AFPN) -- An Air Force F-16CJ fighter crashed about 10:40 a.m. EST on July 6 approximately 40 miles east of Charleston, S.C.

The aircraft, assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing here, was in a military training area on an air-combat training mission. It carried one pilot who was killed. The pilot's identity has not been released pending notification of next of kin.

RADA Electronic Industries has been awarded a contract to supply the Israeli Air Force (IAF) with advanced Ground Debriefing Stations (GDS). The GDS will be supplied to the Israeli Air Force for its F-16 A/B fighter squadrons, already equipped with RADA ACE Airborne Debriefing Systems. The GDS will be delivered to the IAF beginning July 2001 and deliveries will be completed by year-end.

The RADA team, consisting of software experts and combat pilots all serving in the IAF active reserve, developed the GDS. The stations process the compiled flight data and operation parameters recorded onto the analogue video, and reproduce a 3-D view of the actual air combat situation including all the participating aircraft. This reproduction is fully synchronised with the video & audio recordings.

While this iteration of the GDS enables the projection of all displays for mass briefing/debriefing, RADA is developing the next generation GDS to enable digital video technology.

"The operational experience of the developers, many of whom are combat pilots, led to the design of the system's unique characteristics, integrating advanced technologies with superb human engineering. For RADA, this creates a significant opportunity to offer the GDS to users of advanced fighter aircraft world-wide." said RADA's President General (Res.) Herzle Bodinger, a former IAF Commander.

The Government of Israel has reached an understanding with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company to purchase more than 50 additional F-16 aircraft.

The aircraft are being purchased in a follow-on order to the 50 ordered by Israel in 1999 and will be produced in the same advanced, two-seat F-16 I configuration.

Deliveries will be in 2006, following completion of the 50 aircraft that were already on order, and will be completed in 2009. Total value of this follow-on purchase is approximately $2 billion with Lockheed Martin portion approximately $1.3 billion.

The aircraft will include a number of systems produced by Israeli industry and will be powered by the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine. Final assembly will occur at Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth, Texas, facility.

"This order is another significant development that continues the long heritage of co-operative programme between the Government of Israel and Lockheed Martin Corporation. It reinforces the significant defence capability provided by Israel's Air Force, which relies on the F-16 as the backbone of its fighter aircraft fleet," said Amos Yaron, Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

Israel has the world's largest F-16 fleet outside the United States Air Force. The country has received or ordered more than 300 F-16 aircraft, including 102 new ones ordered since 1999 and 50 earlier model F-16s that were acquired from the US inventory in the mid-1990s.

The Pentagon has announced that it has notified Congress of a possible sale to Hungary of four F-16 fighters as part of a deal to lease Hungary 24 of the aircraft. The value of the sale was quoted at $370m.

The four F-16s would be utilised for spare parts needed to refurbish the 24 mothballed F-16s that have been offered on lease to Hungary. The total package will also includes parts, support equipment and training.

A competing bid from Sweden, is under consideration by Hungary, to lease it 24 used Gripen fighters.

The fighters are intended to be used as replacements for Hungary's fleet of MiG-29 aircraft in order to obtain NATO interoperability.

MALACKY AIR BASE, Slovakia (AFPN) -- Staff Sgts. Scott Straley and John Hurley Jr., and Senior Airman Brian Tremblay, all from the 31st Maintenance Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Mike Schoenly, from the 31st Transportation Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, use a Universal Ammunition Loader to load 20mm rounds here. The ammunition was used by F-16 Fighting Falcons from Aviano's 555th Fighter Squadron. Some 220 airmen and the F-16s deployed here for weapons training at a nearby range in Kuchnya, located just outside Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea (AFPN) -- The pilot of an F-16 Fighting Falcon was killed June 12 when his aircraft crashed about 40 miles southeast of here.

First Lt. Randolph E. Murff, assigned to the 35th Fighter Squadron here, was en route to a bombing range for a training mission.

Murff had 259.5 flying hours in the F-16 C/D model. He was the only person on board.

The aircraft was not carrying any live munitions.

To ensure the safety of the population around the crash, base officials have secured the area.

At this time, damage to civilian property is being assessed.

A board of officers will investigate the accident.

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea (AFPN) -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed June 12 about 30-miles southeast of the base here.

At the time of the incident, the Kunsan-based F-16 was on a training mission.

There was one person on board. The condition of the pilot is unknown at this time. The aircraft was not carrying any live munitions.

The F-16 is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft.

A board of officers will investigate the accident.

The US Air Force and Lockheed-Martin are working together to develop a new fuel tank that increases F-16 fighter aircraft fuel capacity without reducing armament space.

The fuel tanks, called 'conformal' because they form fit to the top of the F-16 fuselage, can carry an additional 3,000 pounds of fuel, said Steve Barter, Lockheed-Martin conformal fuel tank project pilot.

"The tanks add additional range to the F-16, without taking out an underwing station where the external fuel tanks that are carried on the F-16 now reside," Barter said. "Alternately, it allows us to add even more fuel by carrying fuel under the wings."

The tanks will be installed on new Block 50 F-16s bound for Greece and later on new Block 60 F-16s headed for the United Arab Emirates.

The F-16 conformal fuel tank project started more than five years ago. The tanks went through many tests following a redesign to make them more aerodynamic.

The tanks were at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., for low-speed and lightweight testing before being sent to Eglin AFB for high-speed and heavy-load testing in March. Testing should be completed by late June or mid-July.

After the testing, officials said the conformal fuel tank F-16, which is the only one like it in the world, will return to Fort Worth to be fitted with fully functional fuel tanks. The plane should return to Eglin in October for further testing.

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- Investigators have determined engine failure led to an F-16 Fighting Falcon crash over the Gulf of Mexico on Dec. 13.

The aircraft, assigned to the 27th Fighter Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., was on temporary duty at Tyndall AFB, Fla., at the time of the accident. The pilot experienced minor injuries after ejecting from the aircraft.

According to Air Combat Command's Accident Investigation Report released May 4, there was insufficient evidence to determine the exact cause of the accident. Testimony from the pilot and his wingman clearly supported that the aircraft experienced engine failure and fire; however, investigators were unable to locate and salvage the wreckage in order to determine an exact cause of the engine failure.

The accident occurred during an air combat training flight involving F-16 and F-15 Eagle aircraft.(Courtesy of ACC News Service)

ISTRES, France (AFPN) -- F-16 Fighting Falcons from Aviano Air Base, Italy, drop away from the fuel boom after gassing up from a KC-135 Stratotanker over the Adriatic Sea. The jets were refueled by the New Jersey Air National Guard's 108th Air Refueling Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. The New Jersey unit is currently on a monthlong deployment to fly aerial refueling operations in support of the ongoing NATO operations in the Balkans, Operations Joint Forge and Joint Guardian. The 108th ARW is part of the 16th Expeditionary Operations Group, a small U.S. Air Force detachment located here.

The Air Force of Chile (Fuerza Aerea de Chile) has selected GE's F110 fighter engine to power its new fleet of F-16 aircraft. The GE-powered F-16C/Ds will be major part of the Fuerza Aerea de Chile's modernisation programme

In late 2000, the Government of Chile announced the selection and the beginning of negotiations for the purchase of 10 to 12 new production Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Fighting Falcons.

"We are very gratified by the Fuerza Aerea de Chile selection," said Russ Sparks, vice president and general manager of Military Engines Operation at GE Aircraft Engines. "The F110 has an outstanding performance record on the F-16.In addition, this selection reflects our longtime support of the Fuerza Aerea de Chile, and we look forward to expanding that role in the future."

Chile's F-16C/D aircraft will be powered by the F110-GE-129 engine (rated at 29,000 pounds of thrust), which first entered operational service in 1992. In addition to Chile, the F110 engine family has been selected to power F-16s for the United States Air Force, Bahrain, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates, as well as for Japan's F-2 fighter.

The Raytheon Company has been awarded two contracts totalling $60.5 million to provide the Israeli Air Force F-16I New Fighter Aircraft fleet with equipment for use in the aircraft's electronic warfare suite.

The contract awards were received from Elisra Electronics Systems, Ltd, the prime contractor for the F-16I electronic warfare suite. Both awards are part of the Israeli Peace Marble V Program, under which the Israeli Air Force is procuring F-16 Block 50 aircraft.

The first contract is for staring infrared sensors that support accurate and timely missile approach warning. The basic programme includes development and production of 100 infrared sensors, with additional services and options. Raytheon's sensor features a staring, single colour infrared focal plane array, an ultra-compact lens, and a sensor package that fits into a five-inch cube. The sensors are part of the missile warning system to be delivered by Elisra for the F-16I. All hardware and documentation deliveries are planned to complete by January 2004.

Raytheon's line of missile warning products includes the infrared airborne staring sensor, the AAR-58 scanning infrared system, and a directional infrared countermeasures system.

The second contract award is for high power radio frequency amplifiers. The programme includes development and production of 100 amplifiers, with additional funded spares and services. Raytheon's power amplifiers feature high power, rapid output port switching, and are common line replaceable units for the Israeli Air Force's F-16 fleet. The amplifiers are part of the electronic countermeasures system to be delivered by Elisra for the F-16I. The award includes options that may be exercised through 2005 for additional hardware sets.

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFPN) -- F-16CJ Wild Weasels from Misawa Air Base, Japan are participating in Red Flag exercises taking place here. The aircraft's primary weapon is the high-speed anti-radiation missile, or HARM, which destroys enemy surface-to-air missile sites and their accompanying radars. The Air Force schedules Red Flag participation to coincide with aerospace expeditionary force rotations, so units are able to train night and day in a realistic environment and with the same units they will fly with while deployed. This includes NATO counterparts from Germany and England and Singapore.

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea (AFPN) -- F-16 Fighting Falcon's from the 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, fly in the Korean skies recently as part of a celebration to recognize the 70th anniversary of the 8th Operations Group. The 8th OG enjoys a rich and distinguished history and established its identity as one of the most lethal and celebrated units in the U.S. Air Force. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Jerry Morrison)

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan (AFPN) -- First Lt. Mark Hadley ejected safely as his F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed into the sea off northern Japan April 2.

Hadley, who is assigned to the 13th Fighter Squadron here, and his aircraft were a part of an air-to-ground combat training exercise at Ripsaw Range here at the time of the crash.

The fighter plunged into the sea about 12 miles northeast of the base. A Japanese navy helicopter rescued Hadley about 30 minutes after the crash.

A board of officers will investigate the accident. (Courtesy of Pacific Air Forces News Service)

Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems (NE&SS) Tactical Systems has been selected to provide the Advanced Mission Computer (AMC) system for 80 United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) F-16 fighter aircraft being produced by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Ft. Worth, Texas, for an anticipated value of $58 million.

The AMC will be at the heart of the UAE Block 60 advanced avionics suite, giving improvements in processor throughput and memory over current generation equipment, and allowing future enhancements. AMC deliveries will commence in 2003. Variants of the AMC, suitable for upgrading existing F-16s, are also planned.

Lockheed Martin and the U.A.E. signed a $6.4 billion agreement March 5, 2000 in Abu Dhabi for the purchase of 80 F-16 aircraft and associated equipment with aircraft deliveries scheduled for 2004 through 2007, making the UAE the 21st country to order the aircraft. The UAE's version of the F-16, named the Desert Falcon, will incorporate advanced capabilities, including the AMC, conformal fuel tanks for extended range, new cockpit displays, new sensors and other advanced features.

As the systems integrator for the AMC project, NE&SS-Tactical Systems is responsible for the integration of commercial-of-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and software provided by multiple suppliers, yielding a state-of-the-art integrated processing solution including a fiber optic network.

Astronics Corporation's Aerospace and Electronics segment has won an order from the Royal Netherlands Air Force to supply lighting components for a night vision upgrade of their F-16 fleet. The contract involves technology developed by Astronics in its work with the US Air Force on similar aircraft upgrades.

Peter Gundermann, President of Astronics' Aerospace and Electronics Group commented. "While the contract with the Netherlands is modest, $310,000, it is important because it is the first time we have sold products using this technology to an F-16 operator outside the US With over 4000 F-16s operated around the world, the potential for further international sales is significant. LSI is actively pursuing a number of international opportunities."

For comparison purposes, the USAF operates approximately 1300 F-16 aircraft, and the Netherlands approximately 150. The Netherlands contract is for only one type of lighting technology used on the F-16 aircraft. There are six others, some of which may be upgraded.

Pratt & Whitney will supply upgraded engines for the Italian Air Force programme to lease 34 F-16 fighters currently in the US Air Force inventory.

Italy will add 30 refurbished single-seat F-16A air defence fighters and four two-seat F-16B training aircraft to its fleet beginning in 2003. The initial lease is for a five-year period with the option for an additional five years.

Pratt & Whitney will upgrade the aircraft's current F100-PW-200 engines to the PW-220E enhanced performance configuration. In addition, Pratt & Whitney will provide a full Customer Logistics Support Programme to take care of the engines once they enter service in Italy. The long-term agreement has a potential value of approximately $140 million to Pratt & Whitney.

"The refurbished F-16 with its enhanced F100 engine is a very potent combat aircraft and one that is attractive to air forces needing an immediate augmentation of their force structure at an affordable cost,'' said Reggie Landrum, head of Pratt & Whitney's international military engine programmes. "There are now six countries that have either bought or leased upgraded F-16s from the United States.''

The Pratt & Whitney F100 family of engines powers the majority of F-16s in service around the world and is the sole powerplant used on the F-15 fighter. Pratt & Whitney has built over 6,500 F100s. Numerous enhancements have been made to the engine since its introduction in terms of endurance, reliability and performance. From its original 24,000-pound thrust class rating the F100 has matured into an engine that can produce in excess of 32,000 pounds of thrust and remains a standard for fighter engine performance.

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- Engine failure caused an Oklahoma Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcon to crash Oct. 12 near Atlanta, Kan.

The aircraft was assigned to the 138th Fighter Wing at Tulsa International Airport. The pilot experienced only minor injuries after ejecting from the aircraft.

Air Force officials investigating the accident found evidence that the No. 3 bearing assembly completely broke-down, causing the engine to seize.

During the air-to-air training mission, the pilot heard a ratcheting sound from the engine and felt a violent vibration of the airframe. This was followed by a bang, rapid engine deceleration and subsequent engine shut down. The pilot tried twice to restart the engine but was unsuccessful.

The pilot ejected from the aircraft after his wingman radiod that the aircraft was on fire.

The F-16 crashed into grazing land, causing minor property damage. (Courtesy of Air Combat Command News Service)

Italy has signed an agreement with the United States Government for the lease of 34 F-16s from the US Air Force inventory and a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) for aircraft support and services.

The F-16s will replace the Tornado Air Defense Version aircraft currently leased from the United Kingdom and the F-104s, both operated in the air defense role. The first F-16s will be delivered in mid-2003.

The five-year lease is renewable for a second five-year period. The LOA and lease value is approximately $777 million over 10 years.

The Italian Air Force will receive 30 single-seat F-16A aircraft in the Block 15 Air Defense Fighter (ADF) configuration and four two-seat F-16B aircraft in the Block 10 Operational Capabilities Upgrade configuration. These aircraft have common software and cockpits, and the F-16Bs will be used as training aircraft.

The ADF configuration has AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) radar missile capability, a night identification light, a long-range high-frequency radio, an electronic interrogator/transponder and other features tailored to the air defense role.

"This lease is a very cost-effective approach to satisfying our near-term air defense needs on an interim basis,'' said Brigadier General Tommaso Ferro, the Italian Defense and Air Attache to the United States, in Washington, D.C. "We are looking forward to joining our eight NATO partners who are already flying the F-16 and expect to enjoy the interoperability advantages of operating the same type aircraft. We are confident that the F-16 capability will superbly allow us to cover the gap while waiting for the Eurofighter generation.''

The F-16 aircraft are currently in storage at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Centre in Tucson, Ariz. Before delivery to the Italian Air Force, all of the flying aircraft will be refurbished and brought up to date with all required inspections and changes. At the same time, the aircraft will receive the Falcon UP structural upgrade. The F100-PW-200 engines will be upgraded to the F-100-PW-220E configuration to improve operability, reliability, maintainability, durability, safety, and operation and support costs.

Lockheed Martin is expected to receive a contract through the US government for spares, technical support and training. Lockheed Martin will manage the spares requisitioning and distribution at the Italian bases. The support contract, worth about $313 million over 10 years, is expected to be issued by the end of this year.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control's Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) successfully performed its first development test at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico on 19 January, writes Doug Richardson.

This is the first of eight contractor development test and evaluation (CDT&E) flights that are part of Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD), the trial was the first to use a seeker to guide to a target.

Launched from a US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon flying at Mach 0.80 and 15,000ft above the New Mexico desert, JASSM cruise missile DT-1 successfully separated from the F-16, deployed its wings and tail, and started its engine. During its 110km flight to the target, it navigated via three predetermined navigation way-points and completed the manoeuvres needed to keep it on the pre-programmed flight path. It descended to a selected altitude above ground level for the final approach to the target. The missile flew a pitch-over manoeuvre and dived on the target at a 70o impact angle. The infrared imaging seeker recognized the target scene and the automatic target correlator (ATC) algorithm guided the weapon to a hit.

Analysis of telemetry and flight-test data has confirmed the verdict of initial quick-look analysis - a successful trial which met all its objectives, and confirmed the soundness of the missile design. The few anomalies noted will be a matter of minor refinements to the weapon.

The test had been preceded by two flights (CT-1 and -2) which demonstrated the aerodynamics and flight control characteristics of the missile over the limits of the performance envelope (see Jane's Missiles & Rockets for November 2000, page 10, and January 2001, page 1).

"The last series of tests proved that JASSM flies, glides, and manoeuvres at the appropriate altitude, range, and speed in the airspace," says Lockheed Martin JASSM program director Mike Inderhees. "Now, the successful completion of the first development test establishes the viability of the seeker and mission planning software and demonstrates JASSM's ability to fly to and hit the target."

The DT-1 flight showed that the missile's combined INS/GPS mid-course guidance system can bring the weapon into a predefined location known as the 'guidance basket' from which the seeker can detect the target and begin the task of homing to a pre-selected aimpoint. It also tested the mission- planning system.

The next seven CDT&E flights will attempt more advanced missions. DT-2 will be another release from an F-16, and will be the first to use a live warhead, Inderhees tells Jane's Missiles & Rockets. The design of the 1,000 lb (450kg) warhead has already been proven by a programme of arena and sled tests, so the company is confident that it will perform satisfactorily on its first flight test. On some missile programmes, the telemetry suite used for development testing is mounted within a dummy warhead, but on JASSM is located in the missile fuselage, allowing warhead-equipped missiles to provide full telemetry information.

DT-3 and -4 will be releases from a B-52, and will confirm compatibility with that aircraft. They will be part of a series of tests which will test the weapon at different ranges and release heights, and test the effect of the warhead against different types of target.

The eight CDT&E flights that are part of Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD). By the time they end next winter, a total of around a dozen carry trials will have tested weapon integration on the B-52 and B-2.

Operational testing will overlap the end of CDT&E testing, and formal IOT&E testing will be completed during 2002. A low-rate initial production (LRIP) decision is expected in the late summer or early autumn of 2001, and full-rate production is expected to begin in early 2003.

Pre-flight planning takes less than 30 minutes, says Inderhees, and tests have confirmed that this target can be met using service personnel. Target data is loaded into the weapon before release, and the round flies autonomously to the target. There is no datalink which would allow in-flight updates, but in the final stages of flight the weapon transmits a data message which confirms weapon health and gives an autocorrelation figure of merit from the guidance system. This information is for bomb-damage indication (BDI) purposes, giving planners confidence that the target has been hit.

JASSM will be the first US missile to receive the munition to be equipped with the Lockheed Martin / Rockwell Collins G-STAR (GPS Spatial Temporal Antijam Receiver). A plan to fit this into the production missile is under study, says Inderhees, but the introduction date has not yet been decided

The US Navy is participating in the JASSM development programme and requires the missile be capable of being launched from the F/A-18 Hornet, but the service is not yet committed to buying the weapon. Several US allies nations have also expressed interest in purchasing the missile.

The required quantities and levels of insensitive munition testing have been completed, including fast and slow cook-off, sympathetic detonation, and projectile-impact trials, and the company is ready to request certification. Inderhees tells Jane's Missiles & Rockets that JASSM will be the first US weapon to fully comply with insensitive munition requirements, and is expected to enter service without waivers.

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- Air Combat Command investigators have determined the cause of a midair collision between an F-16 Fighting Falcon and a Cessna 172 near Bradenton, Fla., on Nov. 16. They believe a critical combination of avionics anomalies, procedural errors and individual mistakes -- on the ground and in the air -- led to the accident.

The Cessna pilot, call sign Cessna 829, was killed in the accident. The F-16 pilot, call sign Ninja 2, ejected and sustained minor injuries. Both aircraft were destroyed in the accident.

At the time of the accident, Ninja 2 was part of a two-ship formation preparing to begin a surface-attack-training mission at the Avon Park Air Force Range in Florida. The Cessna had taken off from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, Fla. The other F-16, call sign Ninja 1, was not damaged in the accident and returned safely to Moody Air Force Base, Ga.

Air Force investigators identified two causes of the mishap. First, Ninja 2 and Cessna 829 failed to "see and avoid" each other in sufficient time to prevent the mishap. According to the accident investigation report, Ninja 2 expected Ninja 1 to make a sharp left turn onto a low-level military training route at any moment. His immediate focus was to see and avoid Ninja 1. Just prior to the collision, Ninja 2 saw a white flash, but did not realize it was another aircraft. There was conflicting testimony as to whether Cessna 829 saw the F-16 and attempted to maneuver his aircraft prior to the collision.

Second, Tampa air traffic controllers failed to transmit a safety alert to Cessna 829 when their radar system generated "conflict alert" warnings, indicating that two aircraft were in danger of a collision. Investigators determined that if the controllers had issued a safety alert to the Cessna when the first conflict alert began, it is likely the pilot would have had time to maneuver to avoid the collision.

Also, investigators identified three factors that substantially contributed to the accident. First, the F-16 flight lead, Ninja 1, lost situational awareness and descended under visual flight rules into Tampa Class B airspace without proper clearance from Tampa approach controllers. Ninja 1 was required to either avoid entry into Class B airspace or request permission from approach controllers to enter.

Second, Ninja 1's aircraft developed a position error in its navigation system that the pilot failed to recognize. The aircraft was actually nine to 11 miles south of where the pilot believed it to be, based on his internal navigation system reading. As a result, Ninja 1 unknowingly navigated his flight into Sarasota Class C airspace without the required communications with air traffic controllers.

Finally, investigators determined that Ninja 1 had made an inadvertent cursor input to his navigation system during the mission. The pilot failed to recognize the error when he switched into ground attack steering mode. As a result, he unknowingly navigated the flight further off course. If Ninja 1 had noticed the error when he switched to the ground attack steering mode and corrected it, investigators believe the collision could have been avoided. (Courtesy of ACC News Service)

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company has selected the BFGoodrich Company to supply the nose landing gear doors for 200 advanced F-16 aircraft. The new doors will be fitted on aircraft that will be delivered to Greece, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore beginning in 2002.

The doors will also potentially be used for any future orders of F-16 aircraft. These advanced model F-16s, which include Block 60 F-16s for the United Arab Emirates, carry the latest in avionics and weaponry and provide a significant range extension over current model F-16s.

The new doors will be designed and manufactured by BFGoodrich using its patented GRID-LOCK(R) structural panel technology. GRID-LOCK(R) components are fabricated using an innovative method of joining machined structural components to make complex, but strong and lightweight parts, out of a few interlocking pieces.

SEB GORKA JDW Special Correspondent
Budapest

Hungary's National Security Cabinet has opted to acquire surplus Lockheed Martin F-16s to serve as the backbone of the country's air force and has abandoned earlier plans to modernise its ageing fleet of MiG-29 (NATO reporting name: 'Fulcrum') fighters.

Originally estimated at Ft160 billion ($557 million), the lease agreement covers the delivery of 24 ex-US Air Force (USAF) F-16As, plus the establishment of necessary ground facilities and the supply of training services. Supplemental funding will have to be authorised for the project, which would almost account for Budapest's total annual defence budget.

The F-16s will replace the Hungarian Air Force's current MiG-29 fleet from 2004, with ownership of the aircraft to be transferred to the Hungarian government following the completion of two five-year lease periods.

The 8 February decision overturned Defence Minister János Szabo's July 2000 signature of a letter of intent with Germany's DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (now part of EADS) and Russia's MiG-MAPO covering the overhaul of half of Hungary's 28 MiG-29A/UBs for $70 million. EADS officials, however, expect shortly to receive a contract worth 6.5 million euros ($3.3 million) to conduct depot-level maintenance of 27 MiG-29s to ensure their availability until 2004.

The Saab-BAE Systems Gripen company on 9 February offered to loan Hungary 24 Swedish Air Force JAS 39 Gripens at no cost in a last-ditch effort to overturn the F-16 selection. To begin within two years of contract signature, the initial loan period would be followed by series deliveries of new-build aircraft after a further five years.

Budapest's decision marks the first conclusion of a competition to supply NATO's newest members with replacement fighter aircraft, with the Czech Republic and Poland yet to finalise their selections. Additional central and east European nations, including Romania and Slovakia, also intend to take procurement measures aimed at improving their chances of gaining full NATO membership at the next heads-of-state summit in 2002.

Hungarian Chief of Staff Gen Lajos Fodor is to visit Washington DC this week to begin detailed negotiations on the F-16 lease. Budapest's decision follows the Italian Air Force's 1 February confirmation of an agreement to introduce 34 ex-USAF F-16s from 2003.

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Two F-16 Fighting Falcon's from the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, taxi down the runway prior to takeoff during Kunsan's Combat Employment Readiness Exercise. The CERE will help prepare Kunsan people for the upcoming Operational Readiness Exercise.

Craig Hoyle JDW Staff Reporter

The Chilean government on 27 December announced its selection of up to 12 Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 50/52C/D multirole fighters. This concludes a long-running competition to modernise the capabilities of the Chilean Air Force.

Worth an estimated $600 million, including mission equipment, support services and an undisclosed armaments package, the proposed foreign military sale is expected to go before the US Congress within the first quarter of this year.

A subsequent contract signature for between 10 and 12 F-16C/Ds is expected to lead to aircraft deliveries taking place during 2004 or 2005, said a Lockheed Martin official.

The government is understood to be interested in acquiring a number of its aircraft equipped with long-range conformal fuel tanks, as already selected by Greece, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

It has also requested the supply of beyond visual-range weapons such as the Raytheon AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile.

A decision on whether to equip the aircraft with engines supplied by either General Electric or Pratt & Whitney will be taken at a later date, said the Lockheed Martin official.

The F-16s will serve to significantly bolster the air force's fleet of around 13 ENAER Pantera C (Mirage 50C/FC), 19 Dassault Elkan (Mirage 5MA/MD) and 13 Northrop F-5E Tiger II fighters, and will replace its remaining 30 Cessna A/OA-37B Dragonfly counter-insurgency aircraft.

Chile will become the second Latin American nation to operate the F-16, with Venezuela having taken delivery of 24 A/B-model fighters from 1983, 22 of which are still in service.

The Chilean decision was met with disappointment by an Anglo-Swedish BAE Systems/Saab joint venture, which had offered to supply the air force with the rival Gripen multirole fighter.

Additional aircraft offered to Santiago included Boeing of the USA's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Dassault Aviation of France's Mirage 2000-5.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics also received a $47.5 million contract from the US Air Force on 26 December covering the supply of a further four F-16C Block 50 aircraft.

Deliveries will take place between October 2002 and January 2003 under the contract, which was funded in the Fiscal Year 2001 Defense Appropriations Act.

STEVE RODAN JDW Correspondent
Tel Aviv

The Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missile (JASSM) team successfully completed its first full-length mission. The second Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) controls flight test of the weapon, it was conducted at the Eglin Air Force Base Test Range in Florida.

The trial began at 10:23am EST over the Gulf of Mexico. Launched from a US Air Force (USAF) F-16 Fighting Falcon flying at M0.8 at 35,000ft, the missile successfully separated from the F-16, then deployed its wings and tail. Once the weapon had reached its programmed start altitude around 100 seconds after launch, it started its engine then flew a mission which lasted for 34 minutes and covered a distance of more than 200nm (370km). On-board navigation was provided by guidance system which combines a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite-navigation receiver and an inertial navigation system (INS).

The purpose of the test was to evaluate the aerodynamics and flight-control characteristics of the missile over the limits of the performance envelope. The JASSM flew through multiple waypoints (the exact number has not been released) and demonstrated manoeuvres which included two 180o snap rolls, inverted flight, and a terminal dive. At the end of the flight, the missile splashed down into the Gulf of Mexico.

Quick-look analysis of the data from the trial indicates that all mission objectives were achieved. Detailed data reduction and analysis, and flight hardware have begun.

An earlier flight test conducted in September 2000 successfully demonstrated separation from the F-16, engine start, powered flight, collection of data and GPS/INS navigation, but assessment of autopilot and flight-control performance was limited when the flight ended prematurely (see Jane's Missiles & Rockets, November 2000, page 10).

A multi-company review team later concluded that the JASSM engine lost power approximately 7.5 minutes into the September flight because a fuel isolation valve did not properly open. The valve controls the flow of fuel from the fuel tanks to the engine, and its failure to open interrupted the flow of fuel, resulting in loss of engine power. For the CT-2 mission, the valve was manually opened prior to the flight to ensure continuous fuel flow into the missile's engine.

"With the success of CT-2, we are able to focus on developmental testing, another crucial step in the development of JASSM" says Terry Little, JASSM programme director for the US Air Force. Developmental testing is scheduled to begin early in 2001, and the first test will focus on terminal mission planning.

One of the Department of Defense's highest priority programs, JASSM is designed to give USAF and Navy pilots long-range stand-off capability against a wide array of high-value, heavily defended targets. The 2,250lb, 14ft long missile is designed to be launched from the F-16, B-52, F/A-18 E/F, B-1, and B-2, and will fly to the target then use its infrared seeker to accurately deliver a 1,000lb penetrator warhead.

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- Two Richmond, Va., Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcons were involved in a mid-air collision Jan. 30. Both aircraft landed safely here and the pilots were not injured.
The pilots were on a night-vision goggle upgrade mission off the coast of Cape Charles and were flying side by side when the incident occurred. Both aircraft suffered minor damage.
It has been more than10 years since the Richmond unit last had an accident, said guard officials.

SINGAPORE (AFPN) -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 14th Fighter Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan, pulls up to a tanker for fuel over the South China Sea during Exercise Commando Sling. The exercise, which ended Jan. 23, included units from both the U.S. and Republic of Singapore air forces and enabled participating pilots to improve dissimilar air-to-air combat training procedures during mock air battles.

F-16 serial number 75-0750 has completed a distinguished career as an advanced technology test aircraft for more than 22 years. It is best known for its service as the Advanced Fighter Technology Integration (AFTI)/F-16 technology demonstrator since the early 1980s.

Aircraft 750 flew its final flight on Jan. 9, 2001 from its birthplace in Fort Worth, Texas, to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, where it will be retired and placed in the Air Force Museum there.

"The AFTI/F-16 has been an excellent platform because of the F-16's basic modern systems, the relative ease of incorporating advanced technologies and the F-16's low cost of operation and maintenance," said Don Swihart, AFTI Programme Manager at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Dayton. "The AFTI/ F-16 has been a real workhorse in proving advanced fighter technologies, and it is fitting that this aircraft have its final resting place in the Air Force Museum."

Aircraft 750 was originally built as an F-16A, the sixth A model and seventh of eight aircraft in the F-16 Full-Scale Development program. It first flew and was delivered to the US Air Force in April 1978. Since then the aircraft has been modified extensively many times and participated in 10 flight test programmes.

The aircraft's last achievement was the very successful Joint Strike Fighter Integrated Subsystems Technology demonstration in Fort Worth during October-November 2000. The aircraft was modified with an all-electric flight control system with electrostatic actuators and a 270-VDC switched reluctance electric power system. It was the first aircraft to fly with an all-electric flight control system, adding to its many aviation firsts. Government studies show the combination of technologies will reduce weight, improve reliability and maintainability, increase survivability, and trim costs compared to traditional hydraulic actuator systems.

During its 22-plus year career, the aircraft accumulated 756 flights and 1,446 flight hours. Much of the time the aircraft was undergoing extensive modifications at the Fort Worth plant. This unique aircraft was flown by more than 23 test pilots from Lockheed Martin (and predecessors), US Air Force, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, US Marine Corps and the Swedish Air Force. Customers have included the US Air Force (various agencies and commands), US Navy, US Army, NASA, Swedish Air Force and DoD's Joint Strike Fighter program.

The Czech government has decided to issue a request for tender for up to 36 fighter aircraft, to replace its ageing Soviet era fleet. Deliveries would be expected between 2004 and 2008

The government said it would compare the tenders on price, financing and offset deals, but would not commit to a decision to buy. The estimated cost is approximately $2.5 billion and the Czechs expect 150% of the value to be offset in local deals with industry.

The tender request will be issued early next week, with responses required by the end of May. A decision on purchase will be made by the end of October.

Bidders are likely to be:

SAAB BAE SYSTEMS (Jas-39 Gripen),
Boeing (F/A-18 Hornet)
Lockheed Martin (F-16),
Dassault (Mirage 2000-5)
EADS (Eurofighter Typhoon)

The US Air Force has placed an order with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company for four additional F-16 aircraft that were funded in the Fiscal Year 2001 Defense Appropriations Act. The aircraft will deliver at one per month between October 2002 and January 2003. Contract value for Lockheed Martin is $47.5 million.

The aircraft will be Block 50 F-16C models in the same configuration as the 10 ordered earlier last year in the FY 00 buy. Distinguishing features include modular mission computer, colour displays and recording equipment, on-board oxygen generating system, and the APX-113 advanced electronic interrogator/transponder. These aircraft will also be common to the initial deliveries in the USAF's Block 40/50 fleetwide retrofit programme called the F-16 Common Configuration Implementation Program.

"The USAF continues to buy F-16s for force sustainment and modernisation," said Don Jones, vice president of F-16 Programmes. "These aircraft will also help us to smooth the ramp up to the higher production rates scheduled in 2003."

With this latest purchase, there were 234 F-16s ordered world-wide during calendar year 2000. The total number of F-16s delivered and on firm order now stands at 4,285. In addition, Chile recently announced selection of the F-16 for its New Combat Aircraft programme and will be the 21st country to operate the F-16.

Advanced Technical Products' Marion Composites division and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company have signed a Long Term Contract for the design, development, qualification testing, and production of new technology radomes for Lockheed Martin's Advanced F-16 Aircraft.

The new technology radomes functionally interact with advanced state-of-the-art antenna systems to improve radar performance significantly and provide enhanced platform lethality and survivability.

Production orders and options for the new technology radomes could generate Marion Composites' sales exceeding $30,000,000 over the next several years. The Engineering and Manufacturing Development/Test Programme begins this month and the first Production deliveries will begin in 2002.

Marion Composites produces a wide variety of aerospace composite structures, shelters, and relocatable hospitals, and is one of the world's leading manufacturer and designer of radomes for high-performance jet aircraft.