F-16 SQUADRONS

Abstract

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is the world's premier multi-mission fighter. It is a fixed-wing, high performance, single-engine fighter aircraft. In its 31-year history, the F-16 has proven itself in combat in a variety of air-to-air and air-to-surface missions such as close air support, combat air patrol, forward air control, battle air interdiction (day/night and all-weather) and suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD)/Destruction of enemy air defenses (DEAD). Also during these years the aircraft has evolved in its capabilities to exploit the advances made in computer, avionics systems, engine, and structures technologies. The F-16 has been selected by more than 20 air forces around the world and foreign military sales production continues in the 21st century. The 312th Aeronautical Systems Group (312 AESG, the F-16 Development Management Office) develops, integrates, and qualifies systems to enhance the overall performance of the F-16 mission. Enhancements which are being or will be developed during the FYDP include: a. Operational Flight Program (OFP) Development: Blk 40-52 OFP (M-tapes) are updated continually to integrate new precision weapons, advanced targeting pods, improved avionics and other HW Group B subsystems. Major tapes (e.g., M5/M5+) are released every three years and a minor tape (e.g., M5.2+) is released 1 year after each major tape. The European Participating Air Forces (EPAF) countries participate in the development of M tapes and share the cost of developing common capabilities and totally fund development of their unique capabilities. Generally, three major or minor tapes are under development/testing at any one time. Extensive ground and flight testing is required to field each M tape. Integration efforts include Auto Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS), software upgrades to the ALR-56M Radar Warning Receiver, manned fighter reconnaissance capabilities and Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) which allows the pilot to designate and shoot targets off-bore sight without maneuvering the aircraft. Advanced weapons integration includes Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missile (JASSM) and Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM, Laser JDAM), Joint Stand-off Weapon (JSOW), Wind Corrected Munition Dispenser (WCMD), Small Diameter Bomb (SDB), AMRAAM, AIM-9X and updates to existing weapons into the F-16. Integration with the high angle off-bore sight AIM-9X missile provides the F-16 with enhanced first-look/first-shoot/first-kill advantage in the "dogfight" arena. Weapons integration also includes tasks such as performing risk reduction activities on advanced weapon integration, developing and integrating advanced racks, pylons, adapters, and the Universal Armament Interface, and ensuring nuclear surety, safety and compatibility. Link 16 provides the F-16s with a secure, jam resistant, high-capacity data communications link with other combat aircraft, airborne control aircraft, and ground control centers. Major new capabilities currently being integrated via M tapes include embedded GPS/INS to improve targeting accuracy and GPS security (i.e. selective availability anti-spoofing module), common weapons engagement zone, EGBU-12 (lazer/GPS guided bomb), mode 5 IFF, small diameter bomb with universal armament interface, AIM-120D, and joint mission planning system. Starting with M6/M6+ OFP, LM Aero will start transition activities for OFP workload and maintenance of M-series OFP tapes to OO-ALC and assumes a "leader/follower" transition where LM Aero will produce M6/M6+ OFP as OO-ALC builds up capability (personnel, special test equipment, OFP development tools & processes, and training). OO-ALC will have software development responsibility for the next M-series OFP program (M7+). During transition, both Lockheed and Ogden may have some concurrent software development capabilities both in terms of special test equipment and personnel since OFP tape developments overlap. This funding is broken out through FY09 for clarity to separate these transition efforts from OFP Development. b. The Mode 5 program for Blk 40/50 aircraft provides secure, encrypted IFF transponder/interrogator capability. Modifications to the Air-to Air Interrogator (AAI) system through integration of a Mode 5 capable Combined Interrogator/Transponder (CIT) capability will field with M6+ OFP. c. Structural Fatigue Test: Initiate Full Scale Fatigue testing on F-16 40-50 A/C. The F 16 is operating under increased risk of unanticipated damage without this testing. Much of the current F 16 fleet is aging beyond the tested lifetime. Additionally, safe life extension past 8K hours is not feasible without this needed testing. Impact if not funded: Increased risk of unanticipated damage and higher probability of in flight failures, increased groundings, maintenance, and repair costs. d. Thunder Radar Pod: This is a development effort to procure one Thunder Radar Pod and associated equipment for testing. Funding provided by an FY09 and FY10 Congressional adds. e. EMD Hardware/Advanced Capability Improvements: EMD HW provides funding to develop, test, and qualify aircraft subsystems replaced or modified due to requirements changes, Pre-Planned Product Improvements (P3I) and Diminishing Manufacturing Source (DMS). The approach to contracting varies by individual project. These hardware improvements include but are not limited to flight systems, improved navigation, mux architecture, MMC upgrade, Embedded GPS/INS, Blk 40 Air-to-Air Interrogator (AAI), digital video recorder, Advanced Data Transfer Equipment (ADTE) and related data transfer devices, display upgrades, radio and communication studies, Electronic Warfare (EW), CAS Data Link and other subsystems. Advanced Capability Improvements includes software integration, sensor upgrades, enhanced self-protection/electronic protection (EP), 4th/5th gen fighter network communications, lab and/or on-aircraft evaluation of potential subsystem changes/capability improvements on the F-16 as well as establishment of associated requirement specification changes. These capability improvements also fund integration of pods including updates and tech order changes (SNIPER, LANTIRN, HTS, LITENING, THUNDER POD, Theatre Air Reconnaissance System (TARS/RECCE) etc. f. Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) Communication Capability: The BLOS communication capability modification is in response to the revised AFCENT Urgent Operational Need to install BLOS capability in all fighter aircraft deploying in support of OIF/OEF. This modification will provide a satellite communication (SATCOM) capability to communicate with many rotary wing and ground maneuver units in the theater of operations. BLOS development for Blocks 30/32 received an OMNIBUS reprogramming and funding to initiate Blocks 40-52 development/integration was provided in the FY08 Supplemental Bill. Since the development activities in this PE support an operational aircraft, these development activities are funded in the operational system development budget activity 7.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2011
• Source ID: 0207133F_7_3600_PB_2011
• Change Summary Explanation: FY10: $1.6M Congressional Add for Thunder Pod. The FY 2010 President's Budget submittal did not reflect FY 2011 through FY 2015 funding. Therefore, explanation of changes between the two budget positions cannot be made in a relevant manner."
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms
• Electronic Warfare
• Human Systems
• Space
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Air Defense
• Air Force
• Aircraft Equipment
• Aircrafts
• Beyond Line Of Sight
• Collision Avoidance
• Collision Avoidance Systems
• Cost Analysis
• Data Transmission
• Digital Communications
• Electronic Warfare
• Fighter Aircraft
• Software Development
• Test And Evaluation
• Test Equipment
• Warfare
• Weapons

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering
• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.

Technology Areas

• Directed Energy
• Microelectronics
• Space