F-16 Squadrons

Abstract

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is the world's premier fixed-wing, high performance, single engine, multi-mission fighter aircraft comprising 45% of the AF fighter inventory. Operational since 1980, the F-16 has proven itself in combat in a variety of air-to-air and air-to-surface missions, such as, offensive and defensive counter-air, close air support, forward air control, air interdiction (day/night and all-weather) and Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD)/destruction of enemy air defenses (DEAD). The F 16 remains the USAF's primary SEAD/DEAD platform. The aircraft has evolved its capabilities by capitalizing upon advancements made in computers, avionics systems, engines, and structures technologies to meet emerging warfighter requirements and combat current and evolving enemy threats. These computer processing and avionics upgrades are critical to building a modernized architecture that promotes current open, agile, and digital concepts to enable future technological growth of the F-16's capabilities well into the 2040s. Furthermore, the F-16 provides the capacity called for in the National Defense Strategy (NDS) by supplying the USAF the highest readiness rates at the lowest operating costs of any US fighter. The F-16 programs listed below support the NDS's call to strengthen alliances by being the DoD's largest Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program servicing over 26 countries and growing. The specific efforts and associated funding details described in this document directly maps to the NDS as it provides upgrades to the F-16 platform enabling the delivery of joint lethality in contested environments throughout the coming decades. RDT&E efforts include Operational Flight Program (OFP) software (SW) development required to integrate new precision weapons, advanced targeting pods, improved avionics, and other hardware (HW) mods to meet the Home Land Defense (HLD) Mission, DoD mandates, and maintain updates on the respective F-16 training simulators, and other hardware subsystems; Engineering Manufacturing and Design (EMD) Hardware/Advanced capability improvements require funding to develop, test, and qualify, weapon systems, aircraft subsystems replaced or modified due to requirements changes, pre-planned product improvements (P3I), Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS), and parts obsolescence; Modular Mission Computer (MMC) Upgrade/Programmable Display Generator Upgrade resolves shortfalls in mission computer memory and throughput brought on by the addition of incremental combat capability additions, addresses cyber-security, includes Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE), design, development, integration, and ground/ flight test for fielding; F-16 Training Simulator updates enable the USAF to exercise/train using the most current F-16 OFP available to all block configurations, to include both aircrew and maintenance trainers; Comm Suite Radio Upgrade (CSU) and improved satellite communication (SATCOM) radio upgrade with Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) capability meets next-gen tactical narrow band SATCOM with better crypto capabilities; an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar capable on all blocks that offers enhanced lethality, advanced electronic protection capabilities, as well as, improved reliability and maintainability on F-16 aircraft; Multi-functional Information Distribution System-Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS-JTRS) provides a real-time, jam resistant, and secure information system for the transfer of combat data, voice, and navigation information between widely dispersed battle elements; Hybrid Flight Control Computer (HFLCC) Auto Ground Collision Avoidance System (AGCAS) development and integration prevents most controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents using terrain database and prediction algorithms for aircraft trajectory recovery and executes an automated fly-up maneuver to avoid collision; Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF-Mode5) on F-16 aircraft provides improved positive identification for Air Traffic Control reporting, combat targeting, and fratricide prevention; Digital Radar Warning Receiver (DRWR) improves existing radar warning receiver performance and Electronic Warfare (EW) threat detection range, azimuth, detection time, and allows for radio frequency compatibility (RFC/SIU) issues with other on board transmitters. DRWR sub-program Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS) previously justified under DRWR as Next Gen EW (NGEW) Suite is a section 804 Middle Tier rapid prototyping program that provides improved DRWR performance and Active Jamming capability in an internal suite to keep the F-16 operationally viable beyond 2046. IVEWS has been separated to an additional Cost Category to continue development and now has a separate mod line, IVEWS P-3A Mod 633035. IVEWS has been separated to an additional Cost Category to continue development and now has a separate mod line, IVEWS P-3A Mod 633035. M-Code improves existing Embedded GPS/INS (EGI), providing an upgradeable, resilient, and reliable Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) system. The total cost of the F-16 EW Suite (F-16IVEWS) Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is $656.46 million, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. F-16 EW Suite (F-16IVEWS) is not fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. The Department of the Air Force is assessing all options to address the funding shortfalls for MTA programs including additional funding in a future budget request, performance trades based on technical maturity, or transition to alternative pathways. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such programs funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY21 4.023M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY22 5.919M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2023
• Source ID: 672671_0207133F_7_3600_PB_2023

Tags

Readers

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

Technology Areas

• Cyber
• Directed Energy
• Microelectronics
• Space