Fact Sheet: The RSAF's Upgraded F-16

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)'s F-16s, which entered service in 1998, have been upgraded with new and advanced capabilities to enhance their operational capabilities. The new Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar represents a significant capability upgrade, enabling the fighter aircraft to track and engage targets at greater distances. The upgraded F-16s are also equipped with an all-weather ground-attack capability, enabling it to strike targets with more capable precision munitions such as the Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (LJDAM). The upgrade also enhances its air-to-air combat capability with the ability to employ modern air-to-air missiles such as the Python-5 missile, enabling it to engage a wider spectrum of air threats. In addition, the datalink system coupled with the advanced helmet mounted display will provide the pilot with superior situational awareness that enhances safety and enables the pilot to maximise the employment of fighter aircraft weapons. With these new and advanced capabilities, the upgraded F-16s will ensure the RSAF's operational readiness and capability to defend Singapore's skies until the mid-2030s.

The new and advanced capabilities include:

1. Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar. The new AESA radar of the upgraded F-16s provides enhanced situational awareness, flexibility and all-weather targeting with its air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities. Its extended detection range allows the upgraded F-16s to detect and engage targets further away, and the number of targets it can track is also higher than the previous F-16 radar, thereby providing the upgraded F-16s with superior situational awareness. Its multiple radar modes also provide greater operational flexibility and enhance operational effectiveness even in cluttered conditions.

2. Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS). With the JHMCS, pilots of the upgraded F-16s will be equipped with a "first-look, first-shoot" high off-boresight capability. This high off-boresight capability means that the pilot needs only to point his head at the target direction, and the weapons will be directed to where the pilot is looking. This enables the pilot to accurately direct sensors and weapons against enemy aircraft while performing high-G aircraft manoeuvres, thereby maximising operational effectiveness. In addition, the JHMCS presents the pilot with an overview of data including airspeed, altitude, and target range, without the need to look into the cockpit during air combat.

3. Air-to-Air Munition. The upgraded F-16 is able to employ modern air-to-air missiles such as the Python-5 missile, enabling it to engage a wide spectrum of air threats. The upgraded F-16's high off-boresight capability and high agility allows for enhanced lethality and survivability.

4. Air-to-Ground Munition. The upgraded F-16s are also equipped with an all-weather ground-attack capability, enabling it to strike targets with more capable precision munitions such as the Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (LJDAM). The LJDAMs allow the upgraded F-16s to strike a variety of targets with precise accuracy, including mobile targets, in both day and night conditions.

5. Datalink Capability. The Link-16 datalink capability of the upgraded F-16s enables the sharing of target information with other aircraft and ground forces, thus greatly enhancing situational awareness and information exchange, while reducing dual targeting and redundant employment of weapons. The sharing of a common battle picture also provides our fighters an edge in a fast-paced air combat environment.

6. Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite. The EW suite of the upgraded F-16s is an integrated electronic support and countermeasures system that comprises a warning receiver, a radar jammer, and a chaff/flare dispenser. The system can effectively detect, identify, and counter threats posed by an enemy, thereby greatly enhancing the aircraft's survivability.

Technical Specifications of the Upgraded F-16

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