Information supplied and copyrighted
by Joe Baugher
Lockheed Martin F-16C/D
Block 60/62 Fighting Falcon
Last revised December 31,
2001
For a long time, it was uncertain if
there would be a Block 60/62 version of the F-16C/D. However, in 1994 the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) indicated that they needed 80 long-range strike fighters. The UAE wanted
the latest available technology incorporated into these planes, and they indicated that if
the USA was not willing to release such technologies, they might consider such competitors
as the Eurofighter and the Dassault Rafale.
In pursuit of the UAE contract, Lockheed
Martin came up with a delta-winged design based largely on the F-16XL. Wingroot troughs
could hold four AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, and a thrust-vectoring General Electric F110
engine was proposed. The delta-winged F-16 was to carry an improved radar, an internal
FLIR and laser designation system, and an improved cockpit with a much more advanced set
of multi-function and liquid-crystal displays.
However, very early on Lockheed Martin
began to develop second thoughts about such an advanced aircraft, and began to consider a
more conventional design for the UAE. The UAE had indicated that they were reluctant to
commit themselves to an untried aircraft, one which had no other customers and in
particular one in which the USAF was uninterested. By this time, the Pentagon had
indicated that they were interested in the Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) project
as a potential replacement for the F-16. Lockheed Martin was a contender for the JAST
project, and since the delta-winged F-16 could outperform the JAST in virtually every
aspect except stealth and for considerably less money, the company might end up competing
against itself. The delta-winged F-16 project was quietly shelved.
Lockheed then proposed a Block 60/62 lot
of F-16C/Ds for the UAE order. The Block 60/62 would be largely based on the earlier Block
50/52, but would have an internal targeting and navigation system similar to LANTIRN but
with only the sensor heads outside the aircraft. However, the Block 60/62 designation
would not be applied until the aircraft actually enter production.
Again, two alternative engines would be
offered. The Block 60 would be powered by the General Electric F110-GE-129EFE (Enhanced
Fighter Engine), which would offer 34,000 lb.s.t with possible growth to 36,000 lb.s.t.
The Block 62 would be powered by the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229A which offers 32,000
lb.s.t, with possible growth to 35,900 lb.s.t. Both of these engines are available with
thrust vectoring.
The Block 60/62 will be equipped with a
Northrop Grumman sensor suite that will be based on the APG-68(V)5 radar. It is an
integrated system that will have an internal targeting and navigation system similar to
LANTIRN but with only the sensor heads outside the aircraft. An Agile Beam Radar (ABR)
will be provided which will have an active array with a large number of transmit/receive
modules This beam can be steered almost instantaneously, making it possible to interleave
various radar modes. For example, the radar could search for surface targets and do
terrain-following while simultaneously searching for airborne threats.
The cockpit will have the backup
electromechanical instruments removed, and three full-color displays will be added.
An attempt will be made to use
commercially-available products such as PowerPC and Pentium processors, and the Ethernet
databus will be used.
After two years of negotiations
(including a controversy of whether computer software codes would be released), the UAE
signed contracts on March 5, 2000 for 55 single seat and 25 two-seat Block 60 F-16s. These
planes would be known as Desert Falcon. On March 14, it was announced that the
powerplant would be the General Electric F110-GE-132, an uprated version of the existing
F-16 engine which can deliver 32,000 lb.s.t.
Norway has also expressed an interest in
the advanced Block 60 F-16. The RNoAF will require a modern multi-role fighter as it
transitions between its F-16 MLU aircraft and the future JSF. Greece and Israel have
expressed interest in the Block 60 as well. The advanced F-16 faces stiff competition for
these export orders from the Eurofighter and the Dassault Rafaele. However, at the moment,
it does not appear that the USAF will itself be interested in a Block 60 F-16, since the
JSF is scheduled to replace the F-16 beginning in 2008. This is, of course, subject to
change if the JSF is delayed or turns out to be more expensive than expected.
The planned under-nose integrated FLIR
targeting system (IFTS) has been replaced by a new podded FLIR mounted on the intake
hardpoints. Apparently, there were problems in achieving the promised performance with the
original layout. The Northrop Grumman AAQ-32 targeting FLIR and laser designator has been
repackaged in a new station. However, the original wide-area navigation FLIR housing above
the nose will still be there. The Northrop Grumman APG-68(V)5 agile-beam radar has been
redesignated APG-80. The Block 60 aircraft will be capable ob delivering the EGBU-24
Paveway III, the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), and the Wind-Corrected Munitions
Dispenser (WCMD). In addition, it will be able to carry the AGM-88 HARM, the AIM-9M
Sidewinder, and the AIM-120 AMRAAM.
The first of 80 Block 60 F-16s is
scheduled to fly in August of 2003. Deliveries are scheduled to run from 2004 to 2007.
Sources:
- Combat Aircraft F-16, Doug Richardson,
Crescent, 1992.
- General Dynamics Aircraft and their
Predecessors, John Wegg, Naval Institute Press, 1990.
- The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and
Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.
- United States Military Aircraft Since
1909, Gordon Swanborough and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.
- F-16 Fighting Falcon--A Major Review of
the West's Universal Warplane, Robert F. Dorr, World Airpower Journal, Spring 1991.
- The World's Great Interceptor Aircraft,
Gallery, 1989.
- Modern Military Aircraft--F-16 Viper, Lou
Drendel, Squadron/Signal Publications, 1992.
- Lockheed F-16 Variants, Part 1, World
Airpower Journal, Volume 21, Summer 1995.
- Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 40 and Beyond,
Bill Sweetman, World AirPower Journal, Vol 36, Spring 1999
- Air Forces Monthly, May 2000.
- Air Forces Monthly, January 2001.
