Starting next Monday, the first two fully-upgraded Block 72 F-16s codenamed Viper will be ready for action against the backdrop of the ODA facility at Tanagra, marking yet another milestone in the Warfighter’s capability enhancement journey Aviation (PA) with a total of 83 aircraft of this type. The first two F-16 Vipers will serve as training aircraft for the pilots of the PA, while at the same time efforts are being made at the facilities of the AAB to deliver within 2022 at least six more aircraft of this type.
Of the technical elements of the F-16 Viper upgrade, the most important concerns the installation of an AESA-type radar, a fact that will convert 83 aircraft into fully interoperable with F-35s (whenever these are added to the PA arsenal, within 8 -10 years), but also with surface units of the Navy, in the case of the French FDI, which are already being built in Lorient. The upgraded F-16 Viper also features a more powerful processor and larger displays that allow the operator to have clarity and range of perception of what is happening in the field in order to make faster and more effective decision-making. The Viper is also given the ability to integrate more precision weapons through the placement of the corresponding systems.
In addition to the 83 Vipers, 38 F-16 Block 50 upgrades follow, which will take place at the Nea Anchialos Air Base facilities in Magnesia. This is a process that involves the installation of systems that are removed from the upgraded F-16 Vipers and will be installed on the Block 50s. The upgrade of the 38 F-16 Block 50s will begin in the coming months. The letter of request (LOR) from the P.A. it is already ready and in the next few days its promotion by the Ministry of National Defense in the USA is expected.
As for the PA’s older F-16 Block 30s, “K” has already revealed since the beginning of August that the plan for them is to keep them in combat condition and to use some of them in the future as training aircraft for new pilots . It is worth noting that even today the F-16 Block 30 of the PA carry a significant workload in the Turkish fighter interception segment in the Aegean.
In terms of fighter aircraft, special importance is attached to strengthening the deterrent capabilities of the PA. it also has the French Rafale procurement program. The first six Rafales are already conducting missions to acquaint their crews with their capabilities and have yet to be actively engaged in intercepting Turkish fighter jets making breaches. Another Rafale is already ready in France and, at least based on the schedule so far, the remaining 12 of the first contract will be delivered by the summer of 2023. The additional six will have joined the PA forces. until the end of 2024.
