Strike Eagles will receive AESA radar upgrades beginning in 2013 along with the latest military GPS capability. F-15E pilots are set to receive a new helmet in fiscal 2013 to help them spot targets earlier. The E-model is also slated to deploy the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM). JASSM integration-testing, completed midway through 2012, sees the F-15 join the B-1, B-2, B-52, and F-16 in operation of the autonomous, air-to-ground, precision-guided standoff missile.

America is far from the only country augmenting its F-16 and F-15 fleets. Lockheed Martin’s hugely successful fighter (the 4,500th example was built last spring) has a new variant, the F-16V. Enhancements include an AESA radar, an upgraded mission computer and architecture, and improvements to the cockpit. Intended as new production jets, Lockheed says elements of the new configuration are available as an upgrade to earlier model F-16s.

Debuting early in 2012, the F-16V was immediately a candidate for the South Korean and Taiwanese fighter competitions. By October, Lockheed Martin announced it had won a $1.85 billion contract to upgrade 145 Block 20 F-16A/B aircraft for the Republic of China. The retrofit program includes the addition of an AESA radar and embedded global positioning, as well as upgrades to the electronic warfare and other avionics systems of Taiwan’s F-16s.

Elsewhere in Asia, Indonesia was proceeding with an arrangement brokered by the Obama administration in late 2011 to transfer 24 retired F-16C/Ds from U.S. surplus to the Indonesian air force for free. The Block 24/25 Vipers will be upgraded to Block-52 standard.

In Europe, the Royal Netherlands Air Force committed to upgrade its F-16AM/BMs via a buy of a limited number of “B-kits” with upgraded self-protection and targeting capabilities to be shared among its 68-aircraft fleet. Weapons upgrades, including a new air-to-air missile, are under discussion as well.

In South America, Chile’s mixed force of F-16A/Bs (including several ex-Dutch examples) and Block 50/52 C/Ds is a candidate for upgrades to standardize the fleet. Lockheed Martin is working with Chile to find a strategy to upgrade older models with the intention of bringing all aircraft up to a Block 50-like standard. The F-16 is also a candidate to replace Chile’s remaining F-5Es, which are to be phased out in 2015.

In addition to a buy of 84 new F-15SAs, Middle Eastern Eagle operator Saudi Arabia has contracted Boeing to refurbish and upgrade 70 older models to SA configuration. The new variant includes an AESA radar, Goodrich DB-110 sensors (a version of the Senior Year Electro-Optical Reconnaissance System flown on the U-2), an infrared search-and-track capability, Sniper and LANTIRN targeting and navigation pods, and a digital electronic warfare system.

Japan has committed to operating its F-15J/DJs until mid-century, holding the view that the 42 F-35s it is purchasing are not air superiority fighters. Planned upgrades to the Japanese Eagle fleet include AESA radar, new cockpit displays, and a new central computer. The nation’s indigenously built Mitsubishi F-2 fighters will receive updates as well. Sixty aircraft will be equipped with the Mitsubishi Electric Corp. AAM-4B missile for a significant boost in counter-air capability due to its integrated AESA seeker. The fighter’s J/APG-1 radar will be updated to the new standard J/APG-2.

Competitive Russian fighter aircraft are also receiving updates. In January, the government announced plans to upgrade at least 60 MiG-31s through 2020 to enhance their ability to intercept aircraft and cruise missiles. The resulting MiG-31BMs will enable pilots to detect targets at up to 200 miles and engage them at 174 miles. Fighters will singly be able to track 10 targets and engage six simultaneously. Twelve older SU-27s are also being updated to the latest SU-27SM configuration.

The apparent selection of Dassault’s Rafale as India’s new MMRCA (Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft) is not the only Indian business for the French manufacturer. Dassault is continuing with the nine-year, $2.4 billion program to upgrade 51 Indian Mirage 2000s it began in 2011. India is also continuing with plans to update approximately 120 of its aged Jaguar IB/IM/IS strike aircraft. Proposed updates include new engines, an autopilot, multifunction displays and other new avionics, fly-by-wire flight controls, EW upgrades, and provisions for new precision-guided munitions.

Fall 2012 saw the U.S. Navy award contracts for the development of an embedded global positioning/inertial navigation system for the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft. The new GPS/INS will demonstrate fiber-optic gyro performance suitability for F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) needs. JPALS is a next-generation aircraft landing system that will utilize GPS data and replace radar-based systems.

In other Super Hornet news, the Australian government confirmed its intention in August to convert 12 of the 24 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets it committed to buy in 2006 into EA-18G Growlers for $1.5 billion. RAAF Growlers are expected in-service by 2018.

Plans to trim America’s fleet of A-10 Thunderbolt IIs by 120 aircraft were announced in the 2013 defense budget, but the 2013 budget authorization passed by Congress mandated retention of some of the aircraft. Upgrades for the remaining Warthogs, including structural integrity improvements, continue, however, under the A-10 Thunderbolt II Life-cycle Program Support.

 

Helicopters

In January, the DoD/industry Vertical Lift Consortium noted:

“Service priorities, inadequate science and technology and development funding, execution issues and ‘requirements creep’ have all led to an industry that is surviving to a large extent on modification programs.”