F-16

Production Serials

Conversion Started For 312 Sqn

December 1, 2000

The Volkel based 312 Squadron started MLU conversion on December 1, 2000.

Conversion 311 Squadron Completed

October 31, 2000

Conversion of 311 Squadron was completed October 31, 2000.

First MLU Aircraft For 312 Squadron

October 12, 2000

Modular Mission Computer

The most important item of the Mid-Life Update package is the Texas Instruments Modular Mission Computer (MMC). Subcontractors are Terma, Nea Lindberg, and Signaal. This computer is based upon several MIPSCO R3000 64-bit Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) microprocessors. It runs the ADA high-order language with object oriented methodology for the OFP, resulting in easier and less costly software upgrades. It has 60 megabytes of memory and a throughput of 155 million operations per second.

Reason For The Mid-Life Update

When the F-16 entered service in 1979, it was expected that the aircraft would be replaced by a successor in 1999. In 1985, Secretary of Defense Van Houwelingen supported the idea of replacing the F-16 between 1995 and 2000 by the French Rafale. The Royal Netherlands Air Force, however, preferred development of an avionics upgrade for the F-16, since the Rafale would not be the technological step forward needed for the next generation of fighters — comparable with replacing the F-104 with the Mirage F-1 instead of the F-16. At that time the RNLAF was convinced the USAF would have an F-16 successor ready by 2005 and that this successor would have features the Rafale would not have.

Extensive article on the F-16 Mid-Life Upgrade program which began in 1989 at the request of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

History

Preliminary work began in 1968 when the possibilities were studied for a low-cost FX influenced by the Vietnam war, in which heavy fighters such as the F-4 had great difficulty in combating small, maneuverable aircraft such as the MiG-17, MiG-19, and MiG-21, which proved to be difficult to detect visually. The intention was to develop a Mach 0.8 to 1.60 aircraft for altitudes of 30,000-40,000 feet, that would be small and highly maneuverable. Emphasis would be on turn rate, acceleration, and range, rather than on high speed.

F-16 self protection

During a mission in the airspace of the countries of the former Yugoslavia, RNLAF F-16s carry a variety of equipment in order to protect the aircraft against a variety of threats. The Northrop-Grumman ALQ-131 pod is carried as an advanced Electronic Counter Measure to protect the aircraft against radar threats. The 600 lbs pod accomplishes this with a combination of noise, repeater or transponder electronic jamming techniques. The pod is capable of jamming enemy radar systems and is programmed in advance, depending on the threats to be expected, and can quickly be re-programmed against changing threats. For missions in Bosnian airspace, these threats will mainly consist of missiles of Russian manufacturers.