Lockheed Martin to announce new F-16 Block 50 variant

US defense company, Lockheed Martin, is to announce a new variant of the F-16. StratPost understands that although the design will be based on the Block 50 model, it will incorporate newer features that have, so far, only been included in the Block 60 Desert Falcons flown by the UAE Air Force and were part of the company’s offer of the F-16IN Super Viper for the Indian Air Force (IAF) tender for 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA).

The new variant will incorporate an AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, which is currently only built into the model operated by the UAE, as well as advanced electronic warfare, processing and communication abilities.

This appears to dovetail into the emerging requirement to upgrade United States Air Force (USAF) F-16 aircraft in service, a USD 2.8 billion plan announced earlier this month by USAF Secretary, Michael Donley, under which 350 aircraft would be retroactively fitted with an AESA radar. This upgrade is part of an effort at building capability with existing assets after the US slowed the production of F-35 Lightening II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft in an attempt to slash around USD 500 billion from its defense budget.

Lockheed Martin has decided to offer the new variant on the basis of requirements cited by ‘four to five customers’, according to one source, who did not wish to be quoted.

The company is expected to announce this variant at the Singapore Air Show on Wednesday. The F-16 is currently in service in 25 countries, including Singapore and Pakistan. Iraq will be the 26th operator of the aircraft.