F-16 Mid-Life Update

F-16 Mid-Life Update (MLU) is a capability upgrade to F-16 A/B aircraft which allowed for the older F-16 A/B's to compete with modern aircraft today. The F-16A/B aircraft which entered service in 1979 was predicted to only have a service life of twenty years. But once the time came to discontinue the F-16, the decision was made that an avionic upgrade would be much less costly to perform than replace the entire fleet into the F-16C/D which is used now. The upgrades made to the F-16 included an airframe service, cockpit upgrades, software advances, avionics upgrades, and communication upgrades.

The MLU needed to be integrated in order to modernize the capabilities of the F-16, which is used by many countries as their main air-to-air combat vehicles. Such countries include the Royal Danish Air Force, the Belgian Air Force, the Royal Jordanian Air Force, the Pakistan Air Force, the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the Royal Norwegian Air Force and the Portuguese Air Force [ The different countries involved and receiving the mid-life update. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/f-16cd.htm] ] . When their F-16A/B were modified, the aircraft are designated as F-16AM and F-16BM.

History

When the F-16 was developed and entered its service in 1979, it was expected that the F-16 would have an operation life expectancy until 1999. [ Life expectancy of the F-16 A/B. [http://home.wanadoo.nl/tcc/rnlaf/mlu_back.html] ] However, after much speculation, the F-16 will not be phased out of service until 2010. In order to extend the service career of the F-16, an elaborate modernization program was implemented, known as the Mid-Life Update, or MLU.

The development of the MLU started in 1989, ten years before the alloted deadline for the discontinuation of the F-16 for flight service. The need for a discontinuation is that the F-16 was designed to withstand up to 9G’s and have a minimum of 8,000 flight hours. [ Discontinuation of the F-16. [http://home.wanadoo.nl/tcc/rnlaf/mlu_back.html] ] A study was conducted for two years in 1991 on the validity of an upgrade rather than an entire overhaul of the F-16.

After the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, the political and military situation changed for the United States. Due to this difference in policy, where the F-16 A/B seemed irrelevant, the USAF decided to withdrawal from the MLU phase of production in 1992, since it was decided that the F-16 A/B would be decommissioned by 2000. But some of the modifications were used for the USAF F-16 C/D aircraft.

After some further negotiations, Lockheed Martin was awarded the contract for the MLU in 1993 for the European nations.

Upgrades Made

For the F-16’s first upgrade, five aircraft went through a Trial, Verification, and Installation (TVI), which was modified by Lockheed Martin in Texas. Each of these aircraft were completely de-paneled and then re-assembled to perform all kinds of work on the aircraft. The most important aspect of the TVI was to replace hundreds of wiring harnesses, which is a system that contains switch, relay, fuse, and the correct gage wire for the intended application. In this case, it specifies which role each display is in by default, which is all connected by a high speed Ethernet data bus.

Avionics

Avionics comprises all of the electrical systems that are designed for the use on an aircraft. The upgrades made to the F-16 improved most of the onboard electronics to give the pilot a better advantage in the battlefield.

*New Modular Mission Computer (MMC)- replaced 3 computers with one superior system which reduced the weight of the aircraft by 55%, the volume by 42%, and the power usage by 32% [ Improvements made by the modular mission computer [http://www.raytheon.com/products/stellent/groups/sas/documents/content/cms01_051346.pdf] ]
*Improved fire control radar
*Advanced Identification, Friend or Foe (IFF)

Cockpit

The cockpit layout will be similar to that of the Block 40/50 F-16C. However, the MLU F-16s, unlike the Block 40/50 aircraft, will be equipped with color displays. All visible surfaces will be painted black and cockpit lighting will be compatible with Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS). In order to allow the Heads up Display (HUD) to be viewed, the Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) are deactivated in the HUD field-of-view.

*Wide-angle Conventional HUD
*Color Multi-Function Displays
*Enhanced Upgraded Programmable Display Generator
*Audio/Video recorder
*Helmet Mounted Display
*Side stick controller and throttle grip

oftware

Five software upgrades were to be carried out during the entire course of the MLU. Each upgrade was to be denoted as M1-M5 through software tapes. The M1 software went through four phases of Flight Test Tapes (FTT).

M1(1998)

FTT-1 tape

• Radar performance evaluation

FTT-2 tape

• Weapon modes: Air-to Air and Air-to-Ground testing• Navigation: Inertial Navigation System (INS) and Global Positioning System (GPS)• Basic MMC core functions integration

FTT-3 tape

• Datalink• IFF interrogation• Horizontal Situation Display• Digital Terrain System (DTS) integration• Cockpit color screen implementation

FTT-4 tape

• Intended to correct any imperfections that were identified in the earlier phases of M1

M2(2000)

*Automatic Target Hands-off System (ATHS)
*Integration of anti-radiation missile capability
*Integration of target designator system
*More detailed implementation of the Digital Terrain System

M3(2003)

*Integration of Link 16 secure tactical datalink system
*GPS-guided weapons capability added
*Introduction of Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Sight (JHMCS)-is a modified HGU-55/P helmet that incorporates a visor-projected Heads-Up Display (HUD) to cue weapons and sensors to the target. JHMCS combines a magnetic head tracker with a display projected onto the pilot's visor, giving the pilot a targeting device that can be used to aim sensors and weapons wherever the pilot is looking. With JHMCS, the pilot can aim the radar, air-to-air missiles, infrared sensors, and air-to-ground weapons merely by pointing his/her head at the target and pressing a switch on the flight controls. Additionally, the pilot can view any desired data (airspeed, altitude, target range, etc.) while "heads-up", eliminating the need to look into the cockpit during visual air combat. [ Explanation of the joint helmet mounted cueing sight (JHMCS). [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/systems/jhmcs.htm] ]
*Advanced short-range missile replacement for the Sidewinder missle

M4(2005)

*Provisions for advanced air-to-air missiles
*Advanced Link-16 capabilities

M5(2007)

*Improved GPS-M navigation system (more accurate and is jamming proof)
*Provisions for new stand-off weapons
*Integration of ECM updates
*Introduction of Joint Mission Planning System

Additional upgrades made

*Improved data modem
*Electronic Warfare Management System
*Miniaturised Airborne GPS Receiver
*Digital Terrain System (DTS)
*Provisions for reconnaissance pods (recce pods)
*Provisions for the Microwave Landing System

Lockheed Martin's Contribution to the MLU Project

The aerospace giant Lockheed Martin was chosen to lead the MLU for the F-16 process. Each country had one Lead The Fleet (LTF) F-16 at the plant in Fort Worth, Texas, as a trial aircraft for the modification. In addition to this Test, Verification and Installation (TVI) aircraft are stripped to the airframe in order for various works to be performed, including the replacement of hundreds of wiring harnesses.

Lockheed Martin also installed the LANTIRN targeting system for the F-16 MLU. [ Lockheed Martin's proposed LANTIRN system [http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/1999/LANTIRNTargetingSystemSelectedForRo.html] ] The LANTIRN targeting system allows pilots to pinpoint and attack targets from standoff ranges, day or night, using laser-guided weapons. This is possible through the advanced software upgrades the F-16 underwent.

Was it worth it?

The physical airframe of the F-16 was much heavier than what was expected of this aircraft. The F-16 was in dire need of an overhaul with or without the MLU due to the high fuel consumption of the aircraft that was not predicted previously. The aircraft needed to able to complete 3,500 hours of service. Being able to keep the F-16 operational until its 5,000 hour made the MLU upgrade affordable and less costly than a very expensive airframe overhaul and an introduction of a new replacement aircraft.

The cost of the MLU program not only increased the F-16’s operational capabilities, but also its life expectancy. This cost was far less expensive than buying and constructing a new aircraft. With these new upgrades, the F-16 MLU series aircraft are able to compete with the most advanced aircraft in the world.

pecifications

Engine: One Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 turbofan, rated at 14,590 lb.s.t. dry and 23,770 lb.s.t. with afterburning. [ [http://www.f-16.net/f-16_versions_article2.html F-16 Versions - F-16 MLU ] ] Maximum speed: Mach 2.05 at 40,000 feet. Service ceiling 55,000 feet. Maximum range 2400 miles. Initial climb rate 62,000 feet per minute. [ [http://www.f-16.net/f-16_versions_article2.html F-16 Versions - F-16 MLU ] ] Dimensions: wingspan 32 feet 9 1/2 inches, length 49 feet 3 1/2 inches, height 16 feet 8 1/2 inches, wing area 300 square feet. [ [http://www.f-16.net/f-16_versions_article2.html F-16 Versions - F-16 MLU ] ] Weights: 16,285 pounds empty, 25,281 pounds combat, 37,500 pounds maximum takeoff. [ [http://www.f-16.net/f-16_versions_article2.html F-16 Versions - F-16 MLU ] ]

F-16 Successor

By 2010, the F-16 will be decommissioned and a new aircraft will be taking its place. The American Joint Strike Fighter seems like the most likely candidate to replace the F-16. In 2001, after Lockheed Martin and Boeing competed for the contract, the United States awarded Lockheed Martin the contract, selecting to start building the F-35 Lightning II. The USAF has decided to build 1,763 aircraft to replace the F-16 fleet. [ The USAF replacement for the F-16 [http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/jsf/] ]

References

External links

* [http://home.wanadoo.nl/tcc/rnlaf/mlu_sources.html A list of resources] regarding the MLU