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South Korea finalises KF-16 upgrade contract with US
Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's International Defence Review
22 December 2013
South Korean and US F-16s in formation. The RoKAF is to upgrade approximately 130 KF-16C/D Block 52 aircraft under a deal finalised on 23 December. Source: US Air Force
The Republic of Korea has finalised an agreement with the US government for BAE Systems to upgrade its fleet of Lockheed Martin KF-16 Fighting Falcon jets, the company announced on 23 December.
With the government-to-government deal now signed, BAE Systems will commence with the first phase of the upgrade programme to the Republic of Korea Air Forces' (RoKAF's) approximately 130 KF-16C/D Block 52 aircraft.
According to the company, this initial USD200 million phase will involve the initial design and development of the upgrade solution. Phase Two of the work, as proposed, would begin in 2014 and would complete the production and installation of the upgrade kits in all of the aircraft over the next several years.
Speaking to IHS Jane's at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition in October, BAE Systems' vice-president of Global Fighter Programs, John Bean, said the upgrade will not include refurbishing the airframes, as they have plenty of life left in them, but will instead focus on enhancing the avionics and weaponry of the 1970s-era aircraft.
The centerpiece of this upgrade will include the installation of the active electronically scanned array Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar. The upgraded KF-16 will also feature the Raytheon ALR-69A digital electronic warfare suite.
A single-seat KF-16C and twin-seat KF-16D are expected to be flown to BAE Systems' Fort Worth plant for upgrade work in 2014, with the remainder of the fleet being modernised in South Korea beginning in late 2017/early 2018
Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's International Defence Review
22 December 2013
South Korean and US F-16s in formation. The RoKAF is to upgrade approximately 130 KF-16C/D Block 52 aircraft under a deal finalised on 23 December. Source: US Air Force
The Republic of Korea has finalised an agreement with the US government for BAE Systems to upgrade its fleet of Lockheed Martin KF-16 Fighting Falcon jets, the company announced on 23 December.
With the government-to-government deal now signed, BAE Systems will commence with the first phase of the upgrade programme to the Republic of Korea Air Forces' (RoKAF's) approximately 130 KF-16C/D Block 52 aircraft.
According to the company, this initial USD200 million phase will involve the initial design and development of the upgrade solution. Phase Two of the work, as proposed, would begin in 2014 and would complete the production and installation of the upgrade kits in all of the aircraft over the next several years.
Speaking to IHS Jane's at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition in October, BAE Systems' vice-president of Global Fighter Programs, John Bean, said the upgrade will not include refurbishing the airframes, as they have plenty of life left in them, but will instead focus on enhancing the avionics and weaponry of the 1970s-era aircraft.
The centerpiece of this upgrade will include the installation of the active electronically scanned array Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar. The upgraded KF-16 will also feature the Raytheon ALR-69A digital electronic warfare suite.
A single-seat KF-16C and twin-seat KF-16D are expected to be flown to BAE Systems' Fort Worth plant for upgrade work in 2014, with the remainder of the fleet being modernised in South Korea beginning in late 2017/early 2018
