Israeli Defense Industries Consortium Upgraded F-16 Aircraft
Jun 18, 2001
Avionics Capabilities Enhancement (ACE) Program Continues Flight Testing At Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd.
Israeli Defense Industries Consortium Upgraded F-16 Aircraft
The first flight of an F-16 aircraft upgraded by a consortium of Israeli Defense Industries was successfully completed last month in Israel. The program is led by Israel Aircraft Industries' Lahav Division and Elbit System. The flight took off from IAI's Flight Test Facility at Ben Gurion International Airport, Israel.
Following additional test flights, the F-16 was flown to France to be displayed at the 2001 Paris Air Show.
The first flight took place after the completion of the final development stages, which involved avionics system integration at IAI/LAHAV's System Integration Laboratory and installation of the new systems on the prototype F-16 ACE aircraft. Pilots, system engineers and software engineers from both IAI/LAHAV and Elbit Systems performed these tasks.
The test pilots were impressed by the considerable improvement in performance that the newly installed display and avionics systems provide. The F-16's original avionics design dates back to the 1970s.
Close collaboration between the Israeli defense industries, the cooperation of Lockheed Martin, the F-16's original manufacturer, and the assistance of the Israeli Ministries of Defense and Finance enabled the F-16 ACE Program to be realized. The Israel Air Force's F-16 fleet is included among the primary candidates for the F-16 ACE Program. In addition to IAI/LAHAV and Elbit Systems, the project involves the participation of IAI/Elta Electronics, El-Op, Astronautics, Rafael, Rada, IAI/MLM, Israel Military Industries, Shaham Electronics, Rokar, and Orbit.
The completed F-16 ACE prototype aircraft reflects the tremendous progress in avionics technology made in recent years. The new avionics suite is on par with those of the most advanced fighters in current production. F-16 ACE pilots will detect and identify their targets with the assistance of the IAI/Elta EL/M-2032 Fire Control Radar. This advanced radar with SAR modes offers outstanding air-to-air and air-to-ground performance.
Targets and relevant data are displayed on the F-16 ACE's three (3) 5"x7" color displays, creating a "Full Glass Cockpit" layout that has yet to be introduced on any operational F-16 aircraft. A wide angle HUD manufactured by El-Op project data into the pilot's outer view of the world. Elbit's Helmet Mounted Display provides F-16 ACE pilots with an alternative to the HUD, enabling them to choose of the systems as the main head up display.
In order to reduce pilot workload a new Up Front Control Panel (UFCP) with integral data display is located directly in front of the pilot. The UFCP reduces to a minimum the number of entries required by the pilot to insert data, read messages or give commands to the aircraft's systems. This user friendly panel provides just one example of the F-16 ACE's optimized man-machine interface, which is based on the extensive experience gained by Israel Air Force pilots on a variety of advanced combat aircraft.
Information detected by the F-16 ACE's sensors as well as data from external sensors is processed by the aircraft's powerful Mission Computer and then routed to the new displays. The Mission Computer and the displays are both Israeli developed systems.
The F-16 ACE's avionics suite features an open architecture design, meaning that new sensors (internal and external), Data Link, and existing and new weapons systems can be accommodated without requiring hardware changes ("Plug and Play"). Changes are required only to the system's software interfaces.
High performance sensors such as Rafael's Litening Pod, EW systems, advanced communication and data systems from IAI's LAHAV and MLM Divisions and from Rafael; Elbit System's Digital Moving Map, and an Inertial Navigation System with embedded GPS constitute only part of the avionics package offered with the F-16 ACE's upgrade.
The F-16 ACE can also be equipped with a comprehensive weapons system integrating the cream of Israel's weapons arsenal. The Litening Pod, Elta's EW Pod, Israel Military Industries' large 600 gallon drop tanks, laser guided bombs, and Rafael's Popeye stand-off missile and world leading Python IV air-to-air missile can be integrated on the F-16 ACE's upgrade.
The F-16's impressive aerodynamic performance, which allows pilots to aggressively fly the aircraft, makes the implementation of structural improvements a necessity. Therefore, the Falcon-Up Program and additional structural upgrades implemented by IAI/LAHAV are included as an integral part of the upgrade program.
The F-16 ACE upgrade will be supplied to the customer with comprehensive logistic support for both the original package supplied by Lockheed Martin and the new avionics, sensors and weapons systems.
An Intensive flight test program will certify the F-16 ACE's performance and it will be possible to initiate serial upgrade during the course of 2002. The price of the serial upgrade is expected to be considerably lower than that of competitive systems and the F-16 ACE's operational capabilities will be superior.
For more information, contact:
Doron Suslik
Deputy Corp VP for Communications
Tel: 972 (3) 93 5-8509
Fax: 972 (3) 935-8512
Email: hpaz@hdq.iai.co.il
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