South Korea Selects Lockheed Martin As New Contractor For KF-16 Fighter Upgrade

[Zarvan]

South Korea has officially confirmed Lockheed Martin as the lead contractor for its $1.5 billion upgrade of its KF-16 fighter jets.

Lockheed Martin will upgrade the warfare capabilities of the Korean Air Force’s 134 KF-16s fleet. Lockheed replaces BAE systems after BAE demanded additional money for the aviation electronics upgrade of the aircraft. BAE had won the contract in 2012.

"As a manufacturer of the platform of the KF-16, Lockheed Martin also has capabilities in the upgrading segment," Kim Si-cheol, spokesman of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), was quoted as announcing the result of a defense project committee meeting by Yonhap news agency Wednesday.

Lockheed Martin also met South Korea's financial requirements, he added.

As part of the upgrade project, the Defense Ministry's committee also picked Northrop Grumman to manufacture active electronically scanned radar (AESA) that can be integrated into the KF-16 fleet.

Northrop Grumman replaced the previous contractor, Raytheon Company.

South Korea Selects Lockheed Martin As New Contractor For KF-16 Fighter Upgrade

 

[A2Z]

South Korea has officially confirmed Lockheed Martin as the lead contractor for its $1.5 billion upgrade of its KF-16 fighter jets.

Lockheed Martin will upgrade the warfare capabilities of the Korean Air Force’s 134 KF-16s fleet. Lockheed replaces BAE systems after BAE demanded additional money for the aviation electronics upgrade of the aircraft. BAE had won the contract in 2012.

"As a manufacturer of the platform of the KF-16, Lockheed Martin also has capabilities in the upgrading segment," Kim Si-cheol, spokesman of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), was quoted as announcing the result of a defense project committee meeting by Yonhap news agency Wednesday.

Lockheed Martin also met South Korea's financial requirements, he added.

As part of the upgrade project, the Defense Ministry's committee also picked Northrop Grumman to manufacture active electronically scanned radar (AESA) that can be integrated into the KF-16 fleet.

Northrop Grumman replaced the previous contractor, Raytheon Company.

South Korea Selects Lockheed Martin As New Contractor For KF-16 Fighter Upgrade

Why don't Korea go for the Viper upgrade? Is the upgrade they plan better than Viper upgrade?

 

[Khafee]

Why don't Korea go for the Viper upgrade? Is the upgrade they plan better than Viper upgrade?

Sir they are going for the Viper upgrade. Differences being:

1) Upgrade to be carried out by, Lockheed Martin instead of BAE

2) APG-83 SABR Radar, instead of RACR Radar

SABR

RACR

 

[flamer84]

So,1.5 billion $ for 134 upgraded F16.s, but that excludes the separate deal for AESA radars from Northrop ? Because getting an upgrade to that standard in 11 million/piece is really something.

 

[Kamil_baku]

So,1.5 billion $ for 134 upgraded F16.s, but that excludes the separate deal for AESA radars from Northrop ? Because getting an upgrade to that standard in 11 million/piece is really something.

its not that much actually... Turkey upgraded 163 f16 for 1.1 billion$ alomost 5 years ago..
163 Turkish F-16 fighter aircraft were upgraded under the Peace Onyx III (PO-III) programme at a cost of about USD1.1 billion.

 

[flamer84]

its not that much actually... Turkey upgraded 163 f16 for 1.1 billion$ alomost 5 years ago..
163 Turkish F-16 fighter aircraft were upgraded under the Peace Onyx III (PO-III) programme at a cost of about USD1.1 billion.

I've read that Taiwan was suppose to pay 25 million $/piece for the Viper upgrade on their F16's.