Turkey launches its own F-16 Block 30 fighter modernization program

Turkey is launching a program to modernize the F-16 Block 30 fighters in service with the Air Force. According to the portal savunmasanayist.com, the serial modernization of the aircraft will start this year.

Turkey independently, without the participation of the United States, has developed a project for a deep modernization of F-16 Block 30 fighters. As part of the modernization, the entire existing F-16 fleet will be upgraded to the OZGUR version. Serial modernization of aircraft is scheduled to begin in 2021.

Reportedly, as part of the modernization, American F-16 fighters will receive on-board systems and a software update developed in Turkey. In particular, new on-board computers, a new interface, a new navigation system will be installed on the planes, and the control panel will be replaced. The aircraft will receive a nationally developed friend or foe recognition system.

The installation of a new multifunctional radar with AFAR is announced, but its development is still underway. According to the Turkish portal, the new radar will be ready by the end of the year, its tests as part of the F-16 fighter are scheduled for 2022.

Almost all equipment was developed by the Turkish company Aselsan.

Also, all F-16s of the Turkish Air Force will be extended from 8 thousand hours to 12 thousand, which will allow these fighters to operate for at least another 20 years.

Comments

[Mountain shooter]

Blimey! The Turks surprise me a lot. Such serious work, and completely on my own.

[Terrible_L.]

Turkey independently, without the participation of the United States, has developed a project for a deep modernization of F-16 Block 30 fighters

A very wise decision against the background of current relations with the Americans

[Alex777]

A very wise decision against the background of current relations with the Americans

Yes.
But I doubt that the Turks themselves suddenly learned to do everything listed in the article.
I can assume that they are planning to get it from the South Koreans.
The Koreans did not receive AFAR from the States and are developing it themselves for their fighter.

... the Korean company Hanwha Systems defended the project of an active phased array radar for the KF-X fighter. The development of this radar has been going on since 2017.

[The leader of the Redskins]

But what about dviglom? It seems that the Turks do not produce it, but this is the basis of the foundations ...

[Zaurbek]

There is an example of Jews with Mirages and Kfirs ...

[OgnennyiKotik]

Quote: Leader of the Redskins

But what about dviglom? The Turks don't seem to produce it

F110 were assembled under license, so some of the work on them can be carried out directly in Turkey.
For radar with AFAR, developments have been going on for a long time, we are talking about testing a pre-production model, launching mass production next year.

[Azimuth]

This is when the Turks collected F110? ... Repair and maintenance, this is their maximum.

[OgnennyiKotik]

Assembly and testing of 271 engines under the Oncel-I and Oncel-II programs and 42 engines under the Oncel-IV program were completed for the F110 engines currently in service with the Turkish Armed Forces.

The assembly and testing of 10 F110 engines belonging to the Omani Air Force was also completed.

Warranty troubleshooting, module assembly, main engine reassembly, inspection and testing of 2 Saudi Air Force F110-GE-129C engines were performed by TEI, which continues to provide troubleshooting and warranty repairs for these engines.

For this purpose, the following activities are carried out:

Engine Acceptance Check
Engine acceptance test
Dismantling the engine
Disassembling the module
Inspection of Piece Parts
Repair of Piece Parts
Repair and Testing of Engine Accessories in Air Maintenance Factory
Spare parts procurement
Module Assembly / Balance
Complete engine
Engine test
Shipment

https://www.tei.com.tr/en/projects/ait-mro/f110-engine# (Без VPN у меня не заходит)

About the Turkish F-16s themselves, there is what and when it is painted: https://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article21.html

[Azimuth]

this is an engine repair, you know? Well, it needs to be disassembled and assembled. But there has never been a licensed assembly of the F100 and even more so production in Turkey, and now it will never be.

[OgnennyiKotik]

Not. In Russian and white (according to the links in the English language) it is written about the licensed assembly, for ourselves and foreign customers, warranty and post-warranty repair of F110 series engines. This is the website of TEI, a Turkish engine manufacturer.
Actually a press release about this very General Electric, about the assembly and partial production of these engines in Turkey: https://www.geaviation.com/press-release/military-engines/turkish-air-force-continues-f-16- operation-ge-f110-power

The Turkish Air Force (TUAF) has ordered F110-GE-129B engines to power its 30 new Lockheed Martin F-16E / F aircraft. The order value, including 42 engines and support, exceeds $ 180 million. It is planned that the engines will gather in Turkish Engine Industry (TEI) since the beginning of 2011.
TEI currently manufactures a variety of F110 parts, as well as components for a variety of other GE military, marine and commercial engines, including the GEnx. This is 2007.

[Captain Pushkin]

Quote: OgnennyiKotik

TEI currently manufactures a variety of F110 parts, as well as components for a variety of other GE military, marine and commercial engines, including the GEnx. This is 2007.

"Lots of"? Now, if instead of the words "a lot of details" there are the words "all the details", then it will be possible to talk about Turkey's possession of the capabilities for the production of turbojet engines for the F-16 fighter.
Only next will require the ability to design, test and fine-tune new turbojet engines. And this is a completely different story.

[Azimuth]

The Turks, or rather the author, fantasize and nothing more. The engine may come to them in units, and not assembled, but there is no licensed production or unlicensed main parts of a jet engine in Turkey, there has not been and is unlikely to appear in the near future, and there will not be a jet engine of its own at least for a 4th generation fighter.

For example, we also supply the same China with units for repair and maintenance of both the engines supplied by us Su-27, etc. up to the Su-35, and assembled local clones independently, but on our engines. But the same China, which has, to put it mildly, a much more developed aircraft industry, still cannot copy or create an analogue, and Turkey can not reach China, as with cancer it can reach Moscow.

[Captain Pushkin]

Quote: OgnennyiKotik

Spare parts procurement

If the USA sells these spare parts ...

[HONESTLY SERVER]

And OUR ?! Its resource is just 4 hours!)))

[Oleg Aviator]

From so from. Your own software and your weapon. Most likely it will go to dill. Although it may not.)

[TermNachTer]

An airborne radar with AFAR is done in half a year, I was crying, Signor Pereira, I was crying))) Another interesting point - where will they get the engines? It is possible to extend the service life of the airframe "on paper", but the engine has an assigned resource, between overhauls, etc.

[donavi49]

Turkish AFAR has been made since 2012. The model was first presented in 2018. Start of flight tests on a typical aircraft (not LL) - 2022.

As for the engine, Turkey participated in the licensed assembly program. Also, the necessary technologies and stands were supplied to carry out repair work. There will rather be an emphasis on the fact that if you need a unit that is not available in the purchased kits, but you must order from the manufacturer. However, no one canceled a one-time purchase through the countries of friends (Qatar, Pakistan, Indonesia). Plus, the engine is famous for its resource and indestructibility, so this will also be beneficial here.

And in general, there should be no problems with the purchase. The Iranians somehow support the F-14, and they were specially cut in the United States so that no spies could take out any details from the United States. The F-16 is the most widely used combat aircraft in the world. And finding ways to buy what you need with a margin is quite realistic.

[TermNachTer]

Judging by the size of the antenna, if you believe the photos (which I don't believe), the F - 16 will not fit. No matter how great the engine is, there still comes a time when either capital or write-off. Spare parts for military equipment, these are not tomatoes in the bazaar, it is not at all easy to buy. And even more so, no one wants to quarrel with the United States, because punishment can be very painful. Iranian F - 14s have long been all "fun", primarily because of the engines.

[donavi49]

Iranian F-14s are saying hello just recently (November 2020).

About fit - not fit, this is a denial of reality. This radar was made for the F-16. I would understand the level claim, bought export slaughtered PPMs in China and assembled them in a package, a great achievement. Here is the native American AFAR SABR.

Buy something conspicuous one. Buying parts there for the hot part is completely different and finding the ends is very difficult. Especially if you take a thread of the operator 60-100 F-16 (Pakistan / Indonesia), where such work is carried out on the spot, without the participation of American specialists.

[TermNachTer]

Have you confused anything?))) Comparing American and Turkish technologies is, to put it mildly, ridiculous. Maybe in 50 years the Turks will make the same from Chinese spare parts. The fact that the airplane took to the air, made a circle and sat down is not yet a combat aircraft. If you need to turn on the afterburner, maneuver with 7 g, etc. will the Iranian "cat" be able to? When were the Iranian F - 14s used in a real combat situation? Or at least demonstrated aerobatics? And they cut them because Boeing paid for it. To avoid the temptation to return the "cats" to the decks of aircraft carriers. As well as writing off "cats", which could still serve for more than one year. But "Boeing" was brought to anyone in the Washington Reich Chancellery, and they decided that "further exploitation is not advisable." Although many mattress sailors believe that in some cases the F - 14 is much better than the Hornet.

[donavi49]

Maybe in 50 years the Turks will make the same from Chinese spare parts.

Here's in the right direction. I answered the claim that it will not fit. The Turkish AFAR is even smaller than the Sabra. Therefore, it will fit in and, in general, this radar was recruited specifically for the F-16 and the mass-size, as well as the energy there is certainly observed. The most important thing in AFAR is PPM. The Turks have been developing them since 2012. What will come out in the end? We will see.

When were the Iranian F - 14s used in a real combat situation?

And Iran last fought in 88. Such a claim can be made to everyone. When were Gripenes used in a real combat situation? Never ... Well, they are constantly participating in major exercises.

[TermNachTer]

Okay, Iran didn't fight. When was the last time you saw aerobatics performed by Iranian "cats"? They can answer - for a very long time. One more point, about the engines - in a combat situation, if the engine is "driven to maximum modes", then after departure this engine is removed from the plane (helicopter) and sent to the TEC for inspection. If there are any doubts, it goes into repair. Because in the next combat mission, when reaching the maximum modes, there may be a refusal. Neither Iran nor Turkey have spare engines and will not have them. Accordingly, the situevina will only get worse.

[Azimuth]

Quote: TermNachTER

Judging by the size of the antenna, if you believe the photos (which I don't believe), the F - 16 will not fit. No matter how great the engine is, there still comes a time when either capital or write-off. Spare parts for military equipment, these are not tomatoes in the bazaar, it is not at all easy to buy. And even more so, no one wants to quarrel with the United States, because punishment can be very painful. Iranian F - 14s have long been all "fun", primarily because of the engines.

And why did everyone suddenly decide that the United States imposed an embargo on the supply of spare parts for the F-16 to Turkey? ...
Turkey is not a wealthy country, plus it seeks to develop its own aircraft industry, and therefore undertook to finance the option of modernizing the F-16 Block 30 on its own, it is both cheap and will support its industry. And this modernization option will naturally be inferior to similar machines, but after modernization according to Lockheed Martin projects.

[Klingon]

Quote: TermNachTER

An airborne radar with AFAR is done in half a year, I was crying, Signor Pereira, I was crying))) Another interesting point - where will they get the engines? It is possible to extend the service life of the airframe "on paper", but the engine has an assigned resource, between overhauls, etc.

engines in Ukropithekia will be repaired on Motor Sich for a cheap price - the Turks give them lard (which they themselves do not eat) and Bayraktars, and yokhlo (p) ukans them engines on the F-16

[TermNachTer]

Ha - ha three times))) I work on "Motor" and I can say that we repair only what we have produced. Nothing is being done to Su, MiG or Il. And even more so for mattress technology, where there are completely different technologies. So, forget)))) the modernization of the Turkish F - 16 will consist in the fact that more or less new (with minimal bloom) gliders will be installed with not yet completely killed engines. Maybe something in electronics will improve.

[Klingon]

I just wanted to troll ... F-16 engines will not be able to make engines in Ukraine, this is clear

[TermNachTer]

I'll tell you more, except in England. Maybe Rolls has the necessary competencies, especially since they are on good terms with P&W and GE. But the British do not exploit the F - 16. And nobody else.

[Klingon]

And for the Chinese Air Force, MS can still produce something?

[TermNachTer]

Same as before. TV - 3 - 117, AI - 222 F 25 (AI - 322) - this is new. Much is being repaired, old ones on An - 12, Il - 38. Although Il - 38 is India.

[Klingon]

thanks, now I will at least know

[Jacket in stock]

operate these fighters for at least another 20 years.

Strongly.
And then we will read the news like now from India about the next fallen fighter?

[TermNachTer]

They can be operated for 40 years if they stand in a hangar. Roll out once a year, for the Independence Day parade)))

[Thrifty]

Many spare parts are licensed, the Yankees simply will not supply them, and if the Turks install their own spare parts, the license for this or that unit can be used for domestic needs, for example, in the outhouse.

[bars1]

Well, the Turks use AFAR for modernization ... Only one country in the world is fixated on the PFAR and you know it!

[Mikhail Ya2]

Serial modernization of aircraft is scheduled to begin in 2021.

According to the Turkish portal, the new radar will be ready by the end of the year, its tests as part of the F-16 fighter are scheduled for 2022.

How are these two quotes compatible?