F-16 Fighting Falcon News

March 31, 2005 (by Susan Ferns) - F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots from Shaw AFB, S.C., were recently at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, to give feedback to members of the F-16 Systems Group on upgrades made to the aircraft.
Lt. Col. John Montgomery, 55th Fighter Squadron commander, and Capt. Jim Govin, a 55th FS pilot, flew two of the newly modified F-16s here. The 55th FS is the first continental U.S. squadron to receive the aircraft with the Common Configuration Implementation Program upgrade.

The pilots spent an afternoon with group officials, briefing them on integrating the modifications into the flying unit and answering questions about the modified planes' performance.

The purpose of the event was not only to get feedback on the current performance of the upgrade, but also to continue working with the pilots to ensure that the group is meeting current and future warfighter needs, said Col. Scott Jansson, F-16 Systems Group commander. As the enhanced capabilities change the F-16's role and mission, the group will continue to upgrade the weapon system to support them, officials said.

"This is a huge honor ... because this is where the F-16 started. Thank you for what you do," Colonel Montgomery said.

With the upgrade the F-16 is "the one aircraft out there that has the entire picture," enabling it to engage in network-centric warfare, he said.

The modification involves installing a new avionics suite, which improves survivability and lethality, said Lt. Col. George Barber, the group's chief of modernization.

The upgrade consists of five major components that provide advanced capabilities to the aircraft.

• A new mission computer for increased processor power.
• Color displays to communicate more information efficiently, giving pilots increased situational awareness of the battle space.
• An air-to-air interrogator to allow F-16 pilots to communicate with other aircraft that appear on its radar.
• An Internet-like system to enhance communication with coalition aircraft.
• A helmet system that displays information on the pilot's visor and permits the pilot to lock on targets just by looking at them.

"This is a complicated upgrade, with a high modification rate, and we are doing it in coordination with the (air and space expeditionary force) rotation cycle to avoid any disruption of the Air Force mission," Colonel Barber said.

The modification program is designed to upgrade about 650 Air Force and the Air National Guard F-16s through 2010, costing more than $2 billion. Colonel Jansson said it is the largest F-16 modification effort ever undertaken.

Colonel Jansson said the Air Force has saved $21.5 million by sharing modification development costs and support plans with our European military partners.