Lockheed Martin hopes to cash in by upgrading F-16s

Star Telegram ^ | Saturday, Oct. 06, 2012 | Bob Cox

[sukhoi-30mki]

Lockheed Martin hopes to cash in by upgrading F-16s

By Bob Cox

rcox@star-telegram.com

For nearly four decades, the F-16 has ruled the skies in the international market for fighter jet sales, a money-making flying machine for Lockheed Martin and its predecessor, General Dynamics.

Now a number of nations are planning to spend billions to upgrade their fleets of older F-16s with modern "avionics," digital electronic controls, communications and combat systems.

Lockheed has the inside track to cash in on that business, but faces potentially strong competition.

The announcement last week that the U.S. government had awarded Lockheed a $1.85 billion contract to upgrade Taiwan's 145 F-16s is the first of what may be several big deals to come in the next year or two.

Already, South Korea has announced plans to contract with BAE Systems to overhaul its 130 F-16s at a cost that has been variously estimated at $750 million to $1.1 billion.

Another potential competitor is Boeing. An official with Chicago-based aerospace manufacturer said it's interested in the business, since it has gained F-16 experience by converting some of the Air Force's oldest planes into target drones.

"This is significant work," said Richard Aboulafia, an analyst with the Teal Group. "Lockheed Martin, for some good reasons and some bad, hasn't done much to get it."

Aboulafia estimates that between 1,500 and 2,000 of the 3,000-plus F-16s in operation worldwide could be candidates for upgrade work.

The F-16 upgrade and modification business will generate added revenues for the contractors, but not necessarily lots of U.S. jobs.

Lockheed has said the Taiwan contract would provide continuing work for about 200 of its engineering an

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/10/06/4315854/lockheed-martin-hopes-to-cash.html#storylink=cpy

[sukhoi-30mki]

Upgrading the F-16

The U.S. Air Force plans to spend about $2 billion to upgrade 300 of its F-16s with a Combat Avionics Programmed Extension Suite, based on the F-16V upgrade package proposed by Lockheed Martin. Each country will specify its own level of upgrades but most will include:

The biggest change is addition of Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. More powerful, faster, versatile and harder to detect and track, AESA radar is the single biggest technology change that vastly improves the F-16 combat capabilities.

ALQ-213 Electronic Warfare Management System, which lowers the pilot's workload by controlling, monitoring and presenting sensor data from weapons target and threat warning systems.

Integrated Broadcast Service. Collects and channels communications for various sources into single system.

6-inch-by 8-inch flat panel Center Display Unit. Provides a variety of aircraft performance and target information to pilots on a single monitor.

Sources: Lockheed Martin, Air Force

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/10/06/4315854/lockheed-martin-hopes-to-cash.html#storylink=cpy

[SkyPilot]

With what cash? As it stands right now, the DoD is going to be devastated on 4 January 13 due to sequestration.

The fat Americans gotta have their Obama Phones, "Free" health care, and EBT cards, dontchaknow.

[Spktyr]

If you had bothered to read the article, L-M is looking to do this for the multitude of foreign air forces that bought F-16s. Their money, not ours.

[momincombatboots]

Love that picture! I am seriously upset with Lockheed for colluding with the Prez to withhold layoff slips until after the election. As far as I am concerned, they are criminals aiding and comforting the enemy and criminals within.

[SkyPilot]

Thanks - I read the headline.

I guess that is the future of Defense contractors - try and find overseas buyers, because we have cut guns for Food Stamps.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Posting without reading.

One of FRs forgettable traditions.

[Roccus]

FTA:

The announcement last week that the U.S. government had awarded Lockheed a $1.85 billion contract to upgrade Taiwan's 145 F-16s is the first of what may be several big deals to come in the next year or two.

Kinda confuses the issue.

[Roccus]

'course, this could be the way the Zer0 administration says "thank you" to L-M for NOT sending out those lay-off notices.

[SkyPilot]

As is self righteous belittlement.

[Salgak]

. . . but is often bought with Foreign Aid. . .

[Condor51]

Lockheed Martin hopes to cash in by upgrading F-16s

There's something about that headline that bothers me. Maybe it's the use of 'cash in' which is normally used in the negative. Anywho, I read the article and IMHO Lockheed should 'cash in' on F-16 upgrades. And why not, they built the darn thing. And no one knows that plane like the one who designed and built it.

an aside: I've always loved the Fighting Falcon. A true Fighter, built for Fighter Pilots. And it looks like a Fighter should look.

(years ago I read that Fighter Pilots had input during the F-16s design stage - which makes sense but usually isn't the case.)

[Spktyr]

Some may be, certainly. But most places that bought the F-16 don’t get foreign aid from us.

[Afterguard]

It’s called FMS (foreign military sales). Since the technology is covered by international traffic in arms regulations the contract is with LM via the USG.

[Spktyr]

Some, but as I said, most countries that bought the F-16 don’t get aid from us. The Dutch, for example, come to mind. Likewise the Turks, South Koreans, Norwegians, Danes, Singaporeans, Polish, Chile...

[Roccus]

Thank you

[ex91B10]

The announcement last week that the U.S. government had awarded Lockheed a $1.85 billion contract to upgrade Taiwan's 145 F-16s...

The Kenyan must go.

[ex91B10]

Winner!!!

The Kenyan must go.

[ravager]

The F-16s have already turned into a flying brick with all the retro fitting and upgrades.