FMS: Turkish Air Force Seeks to Modernize F-16 Fleet

Released on Thursday, October 07, 2004

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified the US Congress of a possible foreign military sale (FMS) to Turkey of an F-16 modernization package as well as associated equipment and services. The total estimated valued could be as high as $3.88 billion, if all options are exercised.

The government of Turkey has requested a modernization package for up to 218 F-16 aircraft distributed as follows: 104 F-16 Block 40, 76 F-16 Block 50 and 38 F-16 Block 30 aircraft. The modernization package includes 180 AN/APG-68(V)9 radars, seven full mission trainers, 200 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS), 200 AN/AVS-9 night vision goggles, four AGM-84H SLAM-ER missiles, four AGM-84 Harpoon missiles, six AIM-120C AMRAAM missiles, four aerial targets, one AGM-154B JSOW, one AGM-154A, two AIM-9X missiles, two CBU-103 Cluster Bomb Units with Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD), two CBU-105 sensor fused weapon with WCMD, one AGM-88B HARM missile, and two AN/ASQ-213 HARM missile targeting system export variant.

The weapons and equipment package also includes integration of the modular mission computer, AN/APG-68(V)9 radar, JHMCS, AN/AVS-9, Link 16, Self-protection electronic warfare suite, ASQ-213, and the weapons related to this potential FMS. Moreover, integration of the IRIS-T air-to-air missile, Penguin anti-ship missile, Python-5 air-to-air missile, Derby medium range air-to-air missile, and Spice on the F-16 weapons system would be conducted through this modernization program. Integration of these five foreign weapons on the F-16 will require additional testing and software modifications.

In addition, the government of Turkey also requested a possible foreign military sale of 225 AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, 5 AIM-9X dummy air training missiles, 20 captive air training missiles, missile containers as well as associated equipment and services. This sale is valued at $96 million including options.

Turkish Air Force will use their upgraded F-16 aircraft armed with improved AIM-9X missiles to support the global war on terrorism and NATO operations in the region. Moreover, weapons standardization and interoperability with US forces would be enhanced through these two potential sales. According to DSCA statement, the two proposed sales will no affect the basic military balance and won't pose an arms race with Israel and/or Greece.

The main contractors involved in the first FMS are BAe Systems, Boeing, Harris Corporation, Northrop-Grumman, Lockheed-Martin and Raytheon. The second potential FMS is related to Raytheon. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with these two sales. Both programs must get the Congress approval in order to be concluded.