Fighter Jet News
F-16 Fighting Falcon News
Singapore upgrades to Block 60
September 12, 2003 (by
Anonymous) -
Singapore recently announced that it is going to upgrade its fleet of block 52 F-16s, to block 60 standards. Singapore is also eyeing new Block 60's as a replacement for its ageing A-4SU Super Skyhawks.
The F-16 block 60 avionics owe a great deal to the F-22 and Joint Strike Fighter. The new fighter has a completely new cockpit, with three 5 x 7 inch color displays. Behind the displays is a fiber-optic high-speed datalink, a new mission computer based on commercial technology, and a data transfer system using 30-gigabyte cartridges.
In action, the Block 60 displays share the "look and feel" of the F-22. Threats and friendlies, identified by the Northrop Grumman electronic warfare suite, by AWACS or other means, are distinguished by shape and color on the screens. A single button-push creates a "shoot list" on the right-hand attack display, assigning an AMRAAM to the closest targets.
Unlike the basic F-22, though, the Block 60 also creates a "bomb list" for air-to-ground targets or a "jam list" for electronic threats. The APG-80 radar has a variable resolution synthetic aperture radar (VRSAR) mode that allows the pilot to identify aimpoints within a target complex such as a SAM site. Again, single-switch angles allow the pilot to toggle between SAR, EW and infra-red displays.
The F-16 Block 60 is due to fly this year and the first aircraft will be delivered to the UAE in 2004.
In action, the Block 60 displays share the "look and feel" of the F-22. Threats and friendlies, identified by the Northrop Grumman electronic warfare suite, by AWACS or other means, are distinguished by shape and color on the screens. A single button-push creates a "shoot list" on the right-hand attack display, assigning an AMRAAM to the closest targets.
Unlike the basic F-22, though, the Block 60 also creates a "bomb list" for air-to-ground targets or a "jam list" for electronic threats. The APG-80 radar has a variable resolution synthetic aperture radar (VRSAR) mode that allows the pilot to identify aimpoints within a target complex such as a SAM site. Again, single-switch angles allow the pilot to toggle between SAR, EW and infra-red displays.
The F-16 Block 60 is due to fly this year and the first aircraft will be delivered to the UAE in 2004.