F-16 Fighting Falcon News

August 11, 2010 (by Lieven Dewitte) - The government of Oman plans to invest $3.5 billion to upgrade its 12 F-16 Block 50/52 fighters and to buy an additional 18, as well as an extended weapons package.
The DSCA notified U.S. Congress last week of a possible sale to Oman of 18 F-16 Block 50/52 jets and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $3.5 Billion.

The 'shopping list' for the Royal Air Force of Oman is as follows:

• 18 F-16 Block 50/52 aircraft
• 20 F100-PW-229 or F110-GE-129 Increased Performance Engines
• 36 LAU- 129/A Common Rail Launchers
• 24 APG-68(V)9 radar sets
• 20 M61 20mm Vulcan Cannons
• 22 AN/ARC-238 Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems with HAVE QUICK I/II
• 40 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems
• 36 LAU-117 Maverick Launchers
• 22 ALQ-211 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites (AIDEWS) or Advanced Countermeasures Electronic Systems (ACES) (ACES includes the ALQ-187 Electronic Warfare System and AN/ALR-93 Radar Warning Receiver)
• Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) Systems with Mode IV
• 34 Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Embedded-GPS/Inertial Navigation Systems (INS)
• 18 AN/AAQ-33 SNIPER Targeting Pods or similarly capable system
  
• 4 DB-110 Reconnaissance Pods (RECCE)
• 22 AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing Systems (CMDS)
• 35 ALE-50 Towed Decoys

Also included is the upgrade of the existing 12 F-16 Block 50/52 aircraft, site survey, support equipment, tanker support, ferry services, Cartridge Actuated Devices/Propellant Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD), conformal fuel tanks, construction, modification kits, repair and return, modification kits, spares and repair parts, construction, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics support services, ground based flight simulator, and other related elements of logistics support.

Royal Air Force of Oman’s (RAFO) capability to train with U.S. and coalition forces and augment coalition forces in a regional conflict. The F-16 Block 50/52 will enable Oman to support both its own air defense needs and coalition operations. Oman currently has 12 F-16s in its inventory and will have no difficulty absorbing these additional aircraft into its armed forces.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.