By 2028 another 83 F-16s should be ready – according to schedule – to be upgraded from “Block 52+” and “Block 52+ advanced” to “Block 70V”. In other words, they will have become of “Viper” level, which in English means “viper”.
The upgraded F-16s, along with the state-of-the-art Rafale, completely change the balance in the Aegean at a time when Turkey remains excluded from the F-35 program and at a time when – according to analysts – the Turkish Air Force is already beginning to have problems with spare parts.
The first 2 “vipers” are ready and from tomorrow they will fly to the Aegean. By the end of the year, an effort is being made to increase the number of fighters that will be in service to 8.
The F-16 Viper with the previous models of F-16 that our country had in its arsenal, are essentially two different aircraft. The “vipers” have additional capabilities compared to previous models, both in terms of radar, battle computer, etc., and the weapons they can carry.
Viper has the new AESA electronic scanning radar which, together with the new weapons systems and the LINK 16 data link system, creates the absolute superiority over the Turkish aviation.
After the upgrade, the F-16V will have autonomous targeting in every environment, will have a wide high definition display with BIG SAR maps, will have better and faster target detection, will be able to “lock” smaller targets, will be able to “lock” many targets at a time and finally will have strong electronic protection.
