F-16 Fighting Falcon News

April 3, 1998 (by Lieven Dewitte) - Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aero) is developing an upgradecapability for the F-16 fighter aircraft. ST Aero's F-16 activities are limited to depot-level maintenance insupport of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), but it is envisaged that the service's oldest F-16A/B aircraft will be in line for upgrades, while other F-16 users in the region (including Thailand) will also develop upgrade requirements.
ST Aero will bid for Indonesia's requirement to give its F-16s a "FalconUp" structural life extension. They are not looking at extensive F-16upgrades yet, because it is a relatively new aircraft, but they are gearing up to such a capability. The company is developing a capability to perform complete overhaul of the F-16's engines. ST Aero has worked extensively on fighter upgrades through the RSAFA-4SU Super Skyhawk program and various F-5 upgrade projects, including the RSAF's program to upgrade all of its F-5E/F aircraft to F-5S/T standard.

During the Asian Aerospace exhibition ST Aero unveiled a digital moving map concept. This software product, which requires a multi-function color display and a special graphics card, is being offered to the RSAF for retrofit into the upgraded (R)F-5S. It could also be incorporated intoF-16C/D models in the future. System features include: two- and three-dimensional, real-time digital map generation; tactical overlay; line-of-sight computations; planning mode, and dual Windows-mode. Operational advantages include: enhanced situational awareness(attributed to the real-time map updates, threat masking and target overlay functions); and operational flexibility. It allows the pilot to deviate from the planned track, enables navigation updates, can display a target photo, and allows quick insertion of new target waypoints.