Taiwan - The first country to operate F-16V Block 70

The ROCAF is the world’s fi rst F-16V operator; most of the upgraded F-16s will equip the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) at Chiayi AFB and the Hualien-based 5th TFW

THE first F-16V Block 70 to be locally modified by the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) and Lockheed Martin in Taichung has been delivered. The jet, single-seater serial 6626, flew to Chiayi Air Force Base on the afternoon of October 19 where it was handed over to the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF). Under the Phoenix Rising deal, Lockheed Martin provides assistance and oversees the whole upgrade process.

Lockheed modified two F-16s (an F-16A and an F-16B) in the US to serve as prototypes for the Taiwanese F-16V, and the remainder are being retrofitted by AIDC in Taiwan. On January 16 last year the first four F-16s to be upgraded locally flew to AIDC in Taichung. AIDC had completed work on the first four jets by last December.

Owing to delays in software testing in the US, these were the only F-16s retrofitted in 2017, instead of a planned ten. From this year, AIDC will upgrade 24 F-16s annually until the conclusion of the Phoenix Rising project in 2023, when the last of 141 F-16Vs will be redelivered – a quantity reduced by attrition from the original 145 upgrades planned.

Taxi tests of a first locally modified jet began in June this year and a first flight test was carried out at the end of August.

What does F-16V Block 70/72 Offer?

On 15 February 2012, Lockheed Martin unveiled a new version of their F-16 at the 2012 Singapore Airshow. Don't get confused between F-16IN Block 70 "Super Viper" (which was offered to India and showcased during 2009 Aero India Air Show) with F-16V. Both are different in terms of avionics packages. The changes are listed below:

ENHANCED, INTEGRATED CAPABILITIES:

The F-16 Block 70 combines capability upgrades, most notably the advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar with a new avionics architecture, and structural upgrades to extend the structural life of the aircraft by more than 50 percent beyond that of previous production F-16 aircraft. 

F-16 Block 70 software takes advantage of technologies not available when earlier Block F-16s were developed and produced. Operational capabilities are enhanced through an advanced data link, targeting pod and weapons; precision GPS navigation and the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS).

ENHANCED BATTLESPACE AWARENESS:

Another key feature of the F-16 Block 70 configuration is the new Center Pedestal Display (CPD), which provides critical tactical imagery to pilots on a high-resolution 6”x 8” screen. The high-resolution display allows pilots to take full advantage of AESA and targeting pod data. 

The new CPD enables color moving maps, larger and easier to manage air-to-air Situation Displays, zoom functionality with the ability to switch information among displays, and a digital display of Flight Instrument Data. The CPD is also compatible with the Night Vision Imaging System.

AUTOMATIC GROUND COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM (Auto GCAS):

The Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS) was purpose-built to prevent deadly crashes and has already saved the lives of seven pilots and six F-16s since the system entered service with the U.S. Air Force in late 2014. The Auto GCAS is designed to reduce incidents of what is known as controlled flight into terrain, or CFIT. According to U.S. Air Force statistics, CFIT incidents account for 26 percent of aircraft losses and a staggering 75 percent of all F-16 pilot fatalities.

The F-16 Auto GCAS system is currently being integrated into the U.S. Air Force’s F-16 fleet and the Air Force and Lockheed Martin plan to develop similar systems for the F-22 and F-35. Current plans call for fielding an Auto GCAS on the F-35 by 2019. The F-35 Joint Program Office estimates the Auto GCAS will prevent more than 26 ground collisions during the service of the F-35 fleet.

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