F-16 around the world

Rappel du premier message :

l'AS a des AIM-120C

on voit bien les tests du SDB
8 en payload,ca donnera quelquechose comme ca

c'est des block 40 ou MLU les vipers norvégiens ?

MLU

Citation :

The Royal Norwegian Air Force (Luftforsvaret) was one of the four initial European Participating Air Forces and ordered a total of 74 F-16A/B aircraft. Of these, 56 were updated under the MLU program. Norwegian F-16s will be replaced in 2015, with the most likely candidates being the F-35 Lightning II and the Eurofighter Typhoon.

http://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article12.html

new born qui voit le jour

Citation :

Lockheed Martin’s Fighting Falcon Evolves With New F-16V

SINGAPORE, Feb. 15, 2012 – Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] unveiled a new version of the F-16 today at the Singapore Airshow. The F-16V will feature enhancements including an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, an upgraded mission computer and architecture, and improvements to the cockpit – all capabilities identified by the U.S. Air Force and several international customers for future improvements.

With nearly 4,500 F-16s delivered, this is a natural step in the evolution of the world’s most successful 4th generation fighter. The Fighting Falcon program has continually evolved as it began with the F-16 A/B as the lightweight fighter then transitioned to F-16 C/D and Block 60 versions as customers’ requirements changed.

AESA radars offer significant operational capability improvements. Lockheed Martin has developed an innovative solution to affordably retrofit this key technology into existing F-16s. The F-16V configuration is an option for new production jets and elements of the upgrade are available to most earlier-model F-16s. The “V” designation is derived from Viper, the name fighter pilots have called the F-16 from its beginnings.

“We believe this F-16V will satisfy our customers’ emerging requirements and prepare them to better interoperate with the 5th generation fighters, the F-35 and F-22,” said George Standridge, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics’ vice president of business development.

The F-16 is the choice of 26 nations. The F-16 program has been characterized by unprecedented international cooperation among governments, air forces and aerospace industries.

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/press-releases/2012/february/0215aero-F-16V.html

Citation :

SINGAPOUR, à l’ouverture du Singapore Airshow, Lockheed Martin a dévoilé une nouvelle version de son F-16. Le F-16V «Viper» présente une série d’améliorations. Avec près de 4.500 F-16 livrés à ce jour, il s'agit d'une étape naturelle dans l'évolution de l’appareil le plus populaire de la 4e génération. Le programme «Fighting Falcon» n'a cessé d'évoluer depuis sa version de base avec le F-16 A/B, puis la longue transition vers le F-16 C/D Block 60 d’aujourd’hui.

Le F-16V «Viper» :

Le modèle «Viper» est en fait une modernisation destinée aux utilisateurs du F-16. L’appareil est cette-fois doté d’un nouveau radar avec antenne à balayage électronique (AESA) couplé à un nouvel ordinateur de mission et une architecture dotée de la fusion de données. Cette modernisation doit permettre de mieux préparer et interagir avec les appareils de 5e génération ou de génération 4++.

Nouveau radar RACR :

Le RACR (Radar Raytheon Advanced Combat). Il s’agit d’une version dérivée de l’AN/APG-79 développé par Raytheon de type AESA dont la plateforme et l’antenne sont adapté selon l’avion, soit le F-16, F-15 ou F/A-18.

Cette solution de radar AESA a été conçu, pour équiper l’ensemble des appareils de la gamme F-16, F-15 et F/A-18 soit neufs ou dans les cas de modernisation de flottes déjà en service.

En ce qui concerne la variante RACR qui équipera les F-16, Raytheon à terminé le développement dans temps record de 24 mois, une série d'essais en vol ont été menés sur des appareils de l’USAF à Edwards Air Force Base, en Californie. Ces vols de démonstration ont mis en évidence les capacités multirôle dans les gammes air-air et air-sol.

Par rapport à l’ancien radar à antenne mécanique le radar AESA RACR apporte une détection étendue avec amélioration du suivit des cibles. La précision d’engagement est améliorée et le radar offre une nette amélioration des capacité de guerre électronique.

Les clients :

Deux pays ont déjà opté pour une modernisation de leur flotte de F-16 en direction du modèle «Viper», les Etats-Unis qui doivent patienter suite aux nombreux retards du F-35 et qui ne pourront pas se doter en nombre suffisent du nouvel appareil. Puis, je vous l’annonçait il y a quelques semaines, la Corée du Sud vient d’opter pour la même modernisation.

Les clients du F-16 sont nombreux en Asie et ce n’est pas pour rien que Lockheed-Martin à commencé la tournée du «Viper» sur ce continent ! Le F-16 est le choix de 26 pays. Le programme F-16 a été caractérisé par une coopération internationale sans précédent entre les gouvernements, les forces aériennes et l'industrie aérospatiale.

http://psk.blog.24heures.ch/archive/2012/02/16/lockheed-martin-presente-le-f-16v-viper.html

bonsoir a tous

quelqu'un peut me dire la difference entre les mot inquietant pour l'armee algerien sur les f16 recus ou l'autre lien qui dit que nos f16 ne peuve pas rivaliser avec leur SU30

http://www.maghreb-intelligence.com/les-editos/1506-edito-pourquoi-les-f-16-marocains-inquietent-l%E2%80%99armee-algerienne.html

Citation :

AESA Radar Equipped Lockheed Martin F-16 V By Year End
The F-16 V version, announced within the last fortnight, is likely to enter service with some of Lockheed Martin’s (LM) international customers late this year or the next. The Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar equipped fighter is the latest iteration of the long standing F-16 fighter.

Defenseworld.net spoke to Ana M Wugofski, Vice President, International Business Development, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics during the recent Singapore Air Show 2012 who said that the F-16 V’s major improvements include the radar, cockpit and mission computer. “The AESA radar brings a lot of capabilities in terms of situational awareness for which additional computing abilities are required”, she added.

Lockheed Martin, which is scheduled to deliver its F-16 number 4500 in April this year to an undisclosed customer will be offering the version “V” both as an upgrade and as new fighter, she said adding that existing and new customers would benefit from the phenomenal capabilities of the AESA radar. “Lockheed Martin had developed a solution to affordably integrate the AESA radar into existing F-16s”.

Currently, the F-16 V is the only fighter aircraft of its kind to have an AESA radar both as new and as retro-fit configuration. The earlier Block 60 version, in service with the UAE Air Force has the AESA radar. However, the new version would allow integration of the AESA into even earlier F-16 versions such as the Block 40 and Block 50, she added. Thanks to continuous evolution, while the F-16 had grown in terms of users and capabilities, it still remained an affordable fighter. This core values would be further strengthened with the new version, she added.

Lockheed Martin was currently talking to 4-5 customers right now for possible sale of the F-16V but their names could not be disclosed, said Ana. However, it had been made public that Taiwan and South Korea had put up RFIs (request for information) for capability enhancement of their F-16 with features of the F-16V version.

Ana said the F-16 V would remain among the most advanced fourth generation fighters for years to come despite the fact that the original F-16 was designed decades ago. “There is very little to compare the earlier F-16s with the current version”, she added.

Defenseworld.net comment: The F-16V may have scored a point over its European rivals such as the Eurofigher and the Dassault Rafale due to the fact that its AESA radar is a game changer in today’s air warfare scenario. Though designed much later, the two European fighters are not expected to be equipped with AESA radars until 2016. Political considerations aside, this would give the F-16 V a major advantage in procurement programs till the middle of this decade.

defenseworld

Citation :

The F-16 Fight Falcon is currently undergoing a field service evaluation of biofuel thanks to a joint effort from airmen from the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and Airmen from the Ohio Air National Guard's 180th Fighter Wing.


In 2011, the Defense Department $8 billion on fuel allowing Air Force officials to work toward making the fleet a little "greener" by researching, testing and ultimately implementing the use of alternative fuels.

The C-17 Globemaster III aircraft have been certified to use biofuel for unrestricted operations and two F-16s from the 180th FW fleet have been designated to test the 50/50 blend of Jet Propellant-8 petroleum and Hydroprocessed Renewable Jet fuel derived from the camelina plant, a weed that grows throughout the United States and requires very little horticulture.

"It's part of the Air Force's strategic goals to be able to reduce energy across the Air Force, so we really embrace that," said Col. Steve Nordhaus, the 180th FW commander. "We're trying to do everything we can to reduce energy costs because we know that every dollar we save there, we can use to buy more aircraft that protect our country or help support Airmen who are out there doing critical missions that affect our homeland defense." The jets have been flying with the blend since mid-December and will continue until the test sample is depleted. By 2016, the Air Force hopes to have half of the fuel that is purchased domestically to be at least a 50/50 blend of conventional and alternative fuel.

http://www.defenseworld.net/go/defensenews.jsp?id=6672&h=F-16%20Go%20Green,%20Use%20Bio-fuel

F16C Blk50

60 F16 une vraie demonstration de force

Citation :

U.S./ROK forces show off air power
Posted 3/6/2012

F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 35th and 80th Fighter Squadrons of the 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea; the 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron of the 388th FW at Hill Air Force Base, Utah; the 55th EFS from the 20th FW at Shaw AFB, S.C.; and from the 38th Fighter Group of the ROK Air Force, demonstrate an “Elephant Walk” as they taxi down a runway during an exercise at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, March 2, 2012. The exercise showcased Kunsan AB aircrews' capability to quickly and safely prepare an aircraft for a wartime mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brittany Y. Auld/Released)

ils ont vraiment retenu la leçon de Pearl Harbor

Citation :

Lockheed Martin to celebrate delivery of 4,500th F-16

In late 1969, a conspiracy was hatched in secret all-night meetings in Washington, D.C.-area hotel rooms that would have a profound impact on military aviation and Fort Worth.
A handful of people were at the meetings: two rebel Air Force colonels, a Pentagon analyst and a General Dynamics engineer. Their goal was to create a fighter jet -- a relatively simple, inexpensive plane that could be sold by the hundreds.
Fortunately, the conspirators succeeded, probably beyond any of their wildest dreams.
On Tuesday, Lockheed Martin will celebrate delivery of the 4,500th F-16, the direct result of those late-night meetings.
It's a huge milestone for Lockheed and Fort Worth. The F-16 is arguably the finest combat airplane of the jet age. It's the principal frontline warplane of the U.S. Air Force and of the armed forces of 25 other nations.
"It's the best air-to-air fighter. Then it proved to be the most adaptable" plane for ground attack missions as well, said Pierre Sprey, a former civilian weapons analyst in the Pentagon and frequent Defense Department critic who was one of the "fighter mafia" insurgents who went up against the military establishment to launch the F-16.
As important as its capabilities, the F-16 remains a relatively low-cost aircraft. Plane No. 4,500 is bound for Morocco. Half of the F-16s ever built have been sold to foreign nations. About 1,600 jobs at Lockheed remain tied to the program.
Beyond the quality of the airplane, perhaps the signature accomplishment of the F-16 program was the process the Pentagon used to buy it. Unlike almost every other modern military aircraft program before or since, the F-16 was designed and built quickly and was free of major technical delays.
'A great feeling'
Since the mid-1970s, the economic fortunes of Fort Worth and the surrounding region have been intertwined with the F-16. Tens of thousands of plant employees -- executives, engineers and assembly-line workers -- built careers, raised families and enjoyed comfortable lives thanks to the F-16.
It's unlikely that the old "Bomber Plant" in west Fort Worth would be operating today if not for the F-16. When General Dynamics began work on the program in 1972, the end of the F-111 bomber program was in sight, and no other contracts were in the offing.
"That plant would not exist without the F-16. No doubt about it," said Jay Miller of Arlington, an aviation historian and author of a book on the F-16.
Numerous small businesses have thrived supplying components and services to General Dynamics and Lockheed, which bought the plant in 1993.
Since the first production F-16 rolled off the assembly line in 1978, more than 3,500 have been produced in Fort Worth. Nearly 1,000 have been assembled overseas, with many Fort Worth-produced components.
Johnny Waller worked on most of those planes since getting a subassembly job in 1986. Waller, now a supervisor, says it has been a rewarding experience.
"This helped me provide for my family all these years," Waller said, and it's been a source of pride. "There's no other airplane like it. It's a great feeling to be a part of something that's been this successful."
Steve Mills, another supervisor, has spent 29 of his 30 years at the Fort Worth plant working on the F-16. In the late 1980s, at the peak of production, he once worked 30 straight days as the plant strained to produce one plane almost every day. Employment at the west Fort Worth plant topped 30,000.
"It was good money. It's been a good living," Mills said.
'Spark of innovation'
Four men could be called father of the F-16: Sprey, Air Force Cols. John Boyd and Everest "Rich" Riccioni and General Dynamics engineer Harry Hillaker.
Boyd, a fighter pilot, was the visionary leader of the fighter mafia. The group believed that the military services were wasting vast sums on complex, poorly conceived and poorly performing planes. They argued inside the Pentagon that the U.S. needed a small, low-cost fighter it could buy by the hundreds. The Air Force and Navy opposed the idea.
Hillaker was an aircraft designer. He and Boyd, neither of whom is still alive, mapped out the genetic code of the F-16. Hillaker oversaw the engineering process that brought it to life.
"We had a tremendous team," said Dwain Mayfield, a retired engineer who worked on the F-16 prototypes, "but there's a spark of innovation that one or two people bring to a program. Harry brought that spark. We all referred to him as the father of the F-16."
Riccioni in 1969 persuaded Air Force officials to grant a tiny $149,000 to study fighter jet technology. That was the seed money for what would become the F-16.
In January 1971, reform-minded Deputy Defense Secretary David Packard ordered a lightweight fighter competition. Five companies submitted proposals, including LTV Corp. in Dallas.
General Dynamics and Northrop were awarded contracts to design and build two prototypes. Their planes, the YF-16 and YF-17, would undergo a competitive flyoff. There was no guarantee that the Pentagon would buy any more aircraft.
General Dynamics rolled out the first YF-16 prototype in December 1973, months before Northrop completed its YF-17. The plane was transported to Edwards Air Force Base in California and reassembled for flight testing. It quickly became apparent that the YF-16 was something special.
Its performance "was eye-watering," said test pilot Phil Oestricher, a former Marine fighter pilot whose unplanned first flight in January 1974 is part of aviation lore. "There was no doubt in my mind this was an absolute winner."
As flight testing continued, the Pentagon said it would consider buying hundreds of the winning design.
In January 1975, the Pentagon declared General Dynamics the winner. The Air Force contracted for eight "full-scale development" planes to incorporate design changes and said it would buy 650 F-16s. Within months Belgium, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands ordered 348.
'Not on my watch'
Performance is the top reason for the F-16's longevity, said George Standridge, a Navy F/A-18 fighter pilot turned Lockheed marketing executive.
"It's a great airplane. The platform works," Standridge said.
Another reason is that with both General Dynamics and Lockheed, Standridge said, buyers have been able to count on the company's performance. "You know when you're going to get it. You know what it's going to cost."
The F-16 wasn’t entirely free of problems in its early days, with some control issues discovered in early flight testing that required modifications to the design including larger horizontal tails. Over time, problems developed with chaffing of electrical wires and metal fatigue.
Production F-16s were rolling off assembly lines by 1978, just six years after the experimental program was started and were flying in some numbers with the U.S. Air Force and European nations by 1980.
Today's F-16 looks little different than the early models, but the aircraft has been modified numerous times to accommodate new technology and weapons. It's not the simple lightweight plane that Boyd and Hillaker envisioned, but it still performs.
Slightly more than 3,000 F-16s are in use today worldwide, many of them built in the early years, according to the authoritative website f-16.net. The U.S. has retired its older jets, but numerous countries have upgraded their aircraft to extend their useful lives well into the future.
Lockheed has only about 70 more orders for F-16s, which would take production into early 2016. In recent years it has picked up a couple of orders per year to guarantee production a few more years.
But Bill McHenry, Lockheed's chief F-16 salesman, said production won't end then, "not on my watch."
"We continue to find nations that have a need for fourth-generation fighters out there," he said.
Iraq is the most recent nation to join the F-16 club, ordering 18 planes last year.
'Most fulfilling'
The success of the F-16 program is in stark contrast to the F-35 that is now under development at Lockheed.
The F-16 was designed to be relatively simple. The F-35 is an incredibly complex program -- three models, one of which has a short takeoff and vertical landing. The F-35 is years behind schedule and vastly over budget, and expected foreign buyers worry that they cannot afford enough airplanes to replace their aging F-16s.
Asked about that disparity, Lockheed spokesman Joe Stout said, "It's not valid to compare development of the early F-16 to the F-35 because of the vast differences in the airplanes and programs."
Critics, however, say complexity is at the core of everything that's gone wrong with the F-35. The Pentagon and the military forgot the lessons learned on the F-16: Keep it simple, keep costs low. "The idea you can have three common airplanes and one of them is STOVL is ridiculous," Sprey said.
The success of the F-16 is a source of immense pride to the men who helped launch the program four decades ago.
"I've talked to some of my colleagues about it," Mayfield said, and "the most fulfilling thing is that we helped change the face of tactical fighter aviation around the world."

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le F 16 Marocain à la minute 02:03

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