NEWTOWN, Conn. - Lockheed Martin unveiled a new version of its F-16 platform 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. Lockheed Martin reports the "V" designation is derived from "Viper," the name fighter pilots have called the F-16 from its beginnings. The Lockheed Martin press announcement did not list which AESA radar would fly on the F-16V.
Most F-16 aircraft are equipped with the Northrop Grumman APG-68 fire control radar. However, the F-16E/F Block 60 is equipped with the Northrop Grumman APG-80 AESA radar. Northrop Grumman reports the APG-80 is designed to search continuously for and track multiple targets within the forward hemisphere of the aircraft. As a result of increased operational flexibility, pilots will be able to simultaneously perform air-to-air search-and-track, air-to-ground targeting, and aircraft terrain-following. Additional advances of the APG-80 agile beam radar include much greater detection range, high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery, and a two-fold increase in reliability compared to conventional, mechanically scanned radars. The United Arab Emirates is the only F-l6E/F customer.
While the APG-80 is one choice, another possibility is the Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR). Northrop Grumman reports that SABR is an affordable and scalable AESA radar designed for retrofit in current F-16s and other legacy aircraft. Compared to mechanically scanned array radars, SABR will provide the increased performance, multi-functionality, and greater reliability inherent in AESA radars. Northrop Grumman adds that SABR provides improved situational awareness, greater detection, high-resolution SAR maps, interleaved air-to-air and air-to-surface mode operations, and an all-environment precision strike capability. A third possibility is the Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar (RACR). RACR is compact, lightweight, and scalable AESA radar that is suitable for the F-16, F/A-18, and other aircraft.
Lockheed Martin also reports that the company has developed a solution to affordably retrofit this key technology into existing F-16 aircraft. The F-16V configuration is an option for new-production jets, and elements of the upgrade are available to most earlier-model F-16s. This may point to the SABR or RACR solutions. Lockheed Martin's prior selection of Northrop Grumman radars may also be an indicator of which radar will fly on the F-16V.
