US Air Force moves ahead with F-16 service life extension
The US Air Force is pushing ahead with an effort to extend
the service lives of 300 Lockheed MartinF-16C/D fighters
as a stopgap measure until the F-35 Lightning II is operational
in sufficient numbers.
the service lives of 300 Lockheed MartinF-16C/D fighters
as a stopgap measure until the F-35 Lightning II is operational
in sufficient numbers.
The service announced on 2 October it would finalise the design
of the aircraft within 18 to 24 months and wants to give
prospective industry bidders a “first look” into the scope of
work needed to extend the aircraft’s service life from 8,000 flight
hours to between 10,000 and 12,000 flight hours.
of the aircraft within 18 to 24 months and wants to give
prospective industry bidders a “first look” into the scope of
work needed to extend the aircraft’s service life from 8,000 flight
hours to between 10,000 and 12,000 flight hours.
The request for information (RFI) is seeking industry input into
the production and deployment of modification kits for Block 40,
42, 50 and 52 aircraft.
the production and deployment of modification kits for Block 40,
42, 50 and 52 aircraft.
“Much of the design remains under development.The purpose
of providing this information now is to afford industry a ‘first
look’ into SLEP and engage interested, but perhaps not
fully capable, parties to support their development and foster
industry partnerships to maximise competition,” the air force says.
of providing this information now is to afford industry a ‘first
look’ into SLEP and engage interested, but perhaps not
fully capable, parties to support their development and foster
industry partnerships to maximise competition,” the air force says.
Photo by Lockheed Martin
Lockheed has completed a series of durability tests on an F-16
Block 30 and is nearing completion of full-scale durability
testing (FSDT) on a Block 50 C-model aircraft that began in
December 2012, a company spokesman says.
Block 30 and is nearing completion of full-scale durability
testing (FSDT) on a Block 50 C-model aircraft that began in
December 2012, a company spokesman says.
That testing should be complete with the first quarter of
015. Lockheed is developing the SLEP design concurrently
with the Block 50 testing in order to shorten to overall
development time for the service life extension, he says.
015. Lockheed is developing the SLEP design concurrently
with the Block 50 testing in order to shorten to overall
development time for the service life extension, he says.
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