Latest news with #Block70
Roya News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
Jordan air force confirms delivery of first F-16 block 70 fighter jets
Commander of the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF), Brig. Gen. Mohammad Fathi Al-Hiyasat, confirmed that Jordan received two F-16 Block 70 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin, with 12 more expected to arrive at a later date, adding that the RJAF will be equipped with a total of 16. In remarks to Roya's 'Helwa Ya Donya', Hiyasat stated that existing aircraft are also being upgraded with advanced navigation systems. In February 2024, the Air Force received two UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, as part of a plan to acquire eight by 2026–2027. In December 2023, a new simulated flight training squadron was inaugurated at the Muwaffaq Al-Salti Air Base, under royal patronage, to enhance pilot performance, Hiyasat continued. And to improve aerial transport, the RJAF acquired three C-130 aircraft equipped with Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO) capability, with three more expected from the United States next year. It also received six "Little Bird" helicopters, with six others undergoing upgrades to support ground forces. Additionally, four 'Cessna C-208EX Grand Caravan' reconnaissance aircraft were introduced last year, boosting aerial surveillance capabilities. Hiyasat said that the Air Force has integrated unmanned aerial systems capable of flying 24-hour missions along border areas, transmitting real-time images to command centers. A new UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) system was acquired to manage drone operations within Jordanian airspace. Air defense systems have also been enhanced with electronic jamming capabilities and 30mm anti-drone cannons. The RJAF added two new Air Tractor aircraft for firefighting operations, capable of deploying quickly anywhere in Jordan or to Mediterranean nations in need. Hiyasat highlighted significant advancements made under King Abdullah II's leadership, particularly in RJAF's operational readiness, training standards, and integration of modern defense technologies. He said that the Air Force is a cornerstone of national defense and benefits from close oversight by the King, the Crown Prince, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to ensure the highest level of professionalism. Humanitarian and Relief Missions The RJAF continues to play a vital humanitarian role, providing aid to Syria and Turkey after the earthquakes, assisting Lebanon following the Beirut Port explosion, and supporting Libya after devastating floods. The Air Force has also evacuated Jordanians, including patients and the injured, from crisis zones worldwide. Gaza support In response to royal directives, RJAF has conducted 126 air missions into Gaza, delivering food and medical aid across the enclave. Sixteen GPS-guided aircraft have conducted precise airdrops to support Jordan's field hospitals in Gaza, while 53 cargo flights have delivered aid to Egypt's Al-Arish Airport for onward transport into Gaza.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Air Force Chief Responds To Possibility Of Buying New ‘Block 80' F-16s
Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David Allvin today responded to questioning regarding the potential of a new version of the prolific F-16, a so-called Block 80, as a way of increasing the combat mass of the service in the future. While the Air Force doesn't at this point have a plan to start buying Vipers again, it's certainly interesting that the topic is up for discussion, especially with the service looking hard at how it will balance its next-generation fighter requirements, while introducing the F-47 crewed stealth fighter and Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones. At the same time, it continues to buy the F-35A stealth fighter and the F-15EX. Alongside Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall and Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman, Gen. Allvin was testifying before the Senate Committee on Armed Services. Senator Thomas Cotton, the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference and chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, asked Allvin about the potential need to buy new aircraft to replace the Air Force's oldest fighters, some of which will still be flying into the 2040s. 'Focusing on just the next decade, then, our current acquisition options are pretty limited,' Cotton said, before asking Allvin: 'Would you be able to use newly built U.S.-configured Block 80 F-16s to strengthen our strike fighter fleet, if Congress can find additional funds for such an effort?' 'Looking at what that would be to take that export variant and adapt it to a Block 80, and the time it would take, and where that would fall in the production line, I'd have to get back with you with more details to see if that would be an advisable situation,' Allvin responded. 'I'd really have to look at what the defense industrial base can do on that,' Allvin added, 'because my sense is that the current Block 70 is really eating up a lot of production lines and production capacity and all the FMS [Foreign Military Sales].' At this point, it's worth noting that it's unclear whether the Block 80 exists as a concept for the Air Force or whether the designation was being used in the hearing in a purely speculative way. TWZ has reached out to Lockheed Martin for more details. Obviously, however, Allvin was happy to consider the idea of a new version of the F-16 for the service, even if only on a hypothetical level. Undoubtedly, the in-production Block 70/72 F-16C/D aircraft are already highly capable, featuring sophisticated avionics, mission systems, active electronically scanned array radar and a digital electronic warfare suite. The supposed Block 80, however, would presumably be more capable still, as well as being adapted for the specific needs of the Air Force. Aside from the Block 80, Cotton also asked if the Air Force would potentially have a place for the Block 70 (and the related Block 72), currently being built by Lockheed Martin in Greenville, South Carolina, for export customers. MYTHBUSTER MYTH: The F-16 is a legacy, outdated technology from the The F-16 is a critical piece of 21st century security, connecting assets in the battlespace. The newest, most advanced F-16, Block 70/72 offers capabilities to air forces around the world! — Lockheed Martin (@LockheedMartin) August 11, 2023 Again, Allvin said he would take the question for the record and come back with a fuller response. In particular, he said he would have to look in more detail at 'what the export variant can and can't do, and any sort of adjustments we would have to make to make it more easily integrable with our U.S.-built fighters. I would need to see what the integration opportunities and costs would be before I can give you a good answer.' Whether Block 80, or Block 70/72, there remains a big question over whether an Air Force order for these jets would be feasible, given the limited production capacity at the Greenville plant, as you can read more about here. Interestingly, the possibility of the Air Force buying new-production Block 70/72 aircraft to bolster its tactical aviation fleets in the near term has come up in the past. Back in 2021, the outgoing Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, Will Roper, suggested the service might want to order an advanced version of the F-16, such as the Block 70/72. 'As you look at the new F-16 production line in South Carolina, that system has some wonderful upgraded capabilities that are worth thinking about as part of our capacity solution,' Roper said, in an interview with Aviation Week. The idea was quickly shot down by the then Air Force Chief of Staff General Charles Q. Brown Jr., who was vehement that the F-16 — even a much-improved version — was not the right choice for the future Air Force. In particular, he pointed to the F-16's inability to receive software updates at the speed that's desired and its lack of open-architecture software protocols that would allow it to be rapidly reconfigured. At the same time, Brown did, however, bring up the possibility of a 'clean-sheet design' for a future fighter, which he described as a 'four-and-a-half-gen or fifth-gen-minus' aircraft. This would be cheap enough to be procured in the numbers required to eventually replace the F-16. But perhaps, after all, the idea of a potential future Air Force F-16 buy is not altogether dead. Speaking today, Gen. Allvin stressed the importance of having 'not only the right capacity but the capability … to make sure that we have the right mix of the high-end to be able to dominate and be relevant in an Indo-Pacific fight, as well as other fighters that may not need to be as sophisticated as our fifth-generation, sixth-generation.' Furthermore, Allvin said that CCA drones — at least as far as Increment One is concerned — will not be able to replace crewed fighters like the F-16 and the F-15E. 'My assessment [of the CCA] as of right now, it will not replace that. It will be a great augmentation. And its threshold is to be able to work with the F-35 and the F-22 even before the F-47 gets fielded, so it will help us deliver more combat capability at a better cost point. But as far as replacing the manned fighters, that remains to be seen. What we have built into Increment One, my assessment right now is that would not be a good one-for-one replacement.' Meanwhile, the need to replace aging F-16s, which still serve as a backbone of the USAF's fighter fleet, is becoming more acute, Allvin noted. 'As we continue to keep the older aircraft, they do become more and more expensive to maintain,' Allvin said, while the mission capable rate 'is not what we'd like it to be.' He added that the average Air Force F-16 'was built right about the time the Cold War ended. So even those F-16s are getting pretty old.' As of 2024, the mission capable rate (MCR) for the F-16C stood at 64 percent, down from almost 72 percent in 2021. This compares with 52 percent for the F-22, and 86 percent for the brand-new F-15EX. The designated replacement for the F-16 should be the F-35 stealth fighter, although there have long been signs that the Air Force doesn't see this platform as necessarily the direct successor to all its legacy tactical fighters. The Air Force F-35A buy is still officially pegged at 1,763 aircraft, but there have been reports that, as early as 2018, the service had prepared a study that called for these orders to be cut back to 1,050. The Air Force is, notably, also buying F-15EX fighters, alongside F-35As, so clearly hasn't entirely given up on acquiring fourth-generation fighters. In the past, Allvin has also raised the possibility of some kind of light crewed fighter that could serve as a future adjunct to more advanced and costly fifth- and sixth-generation fighters. Allvin presented a highly notional concept illustration for a light fighter last year, as you can read about here. Despite the Air Force's commitment to the F-35, the Joint Strike Fighter program remains an enormously expensive one — the costliest in Pentagon history — leaving room for discussions, at least, about a cheaper crewed fighter. With advanced versions of the F-16 now being manufactured for export customers, it's perhaps no surprise that the Viper, or a further optimized iteration of it, is being at least discussed by some as potential equipment for the U.S. Air Force, too. Contact the author: thomas@
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The first of 16 new F-16 fighter jets from the US land in Bulgaria
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgaria received on Wednesday the first of 16 new F-16 military jets from the United States that the Balkan country needs to upgrade its defense and bring its air force in line with NATO standards. Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov hailed the arrival of the first jet at the Graf Ignatievo air base in central Bulgaria. 'This is not just a fighter jet, but a symbol and embodiment of Bulgaria's strategic partnership with the United States … a partnership that offers a new perspective for the Bulgarian Army," the prime minister said. Bulgaria contracted to buy eight multi-role F-16 Block 70 aircraft in July 2019 for $1.3 billion. Plans initially called for the first planes to arrive in Bulgaria in 2023, but the coronavirus pandemic delayed their delivery. In 2022, the Bulgarian government signed a contract with American aerospace company Lockheed Martin for a second batch of another eight of the F-16 fighter jets by the end of 2027. Bulgaria, which joined NATO in 2004, has for two decades sought to update its military's air fleet of aging Soviet-made MiG-29 jets, but financial problems forced repeated postponements. Amid Russia's ongoing war on Ukraine, Bulgaria has been relying on assistance from other NATO countries to fulfill its air policing obligations as an alliance member.
Asia Times
01-04-2025
- Business
- Asia Times
Taiwan's new fighters struggle to close airpower gap with China
Taiwan's acquisition of upgraded F-16V fighters marks a significant step forward, but does little to close the yawning gap with China's rapidly modernizing air force. Last month, multiple news outlets reported that the US delivered the first of 66 F-16C/D Block 70 fighter jets to Taiwan, marking a significant milestone in a US$8 billion arms deal signed in 2019. The handover ceremony, held at Lockheed Martin's Greenville, South Carolina, factory, was attended by Taiwan's Deputy Defense Minister Po Horng-Huei and its representative to the US Alexander Yui. The jets, to be stationed at Zhihang Air Base, will equip the newly formed 7th Tactical Fighter Wing, which is tasked with bolstering the island's air defense amid growing threats from China. The Block 70 variant, the F-16V, features AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, advanced electronic warfare systems, conformal fuel tanks and upgraded avionics. \ These enable the carrying of a wide range of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, including the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon. Although the first delivered jet may temporarily lack its intended electronic warfare suite due to production delays, Taiwan plans to integrate the missing systems later. US officials highlighted the delivery as a demonstration of US commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act and the 'Six Assurances,' underscoring continued arms sales to Taipei despite China's opposition. Complete delivery of the 66 jets is expected by the end of 2026. Taiwan's new F-16V jets represent a significant improvement over its older F-16A/B fleet, which has also been upgraded to the V-standard. However, recent combat insights raise questions about their effectiveness against China's modern airpower. In a Defense Security Asia article last month, Yuriy Ignat, former spokesperson for Ukraine's Air Force Command, noted that Ukraine's upgraded F-16 AM/BM fighters – mid-life improved versions similar to Taiwan's older models – have struggled against Russia's Su-35s due to inferior avionics, maneuverability and weapon systems. While Taiwan's F-16Vs feature more advanced radar and electronic warfare systems than Ukraine's F-16s, they could face a similar qualitative disadvantage against China's Su-35s and its growing fleet of J-20 stealth fighters. Likewise, Global Security notes that Taiwan's fleet of Indigenous Defense Fighters (IDF) is underpowered and short-range, with speculation that US political pressure has prevented Taiwan from developing long-range fighters to avoid provoking China. Although Global Security suggests that Taiwan's IDFs may have been more advanced than any other combat aircraft China had at the time of their unveiling in the 1980s, China has since unveiled superior fighters. Further, Steve Balestrieri mentions in a February 2025 article for 1945 that China operates 24 Su-35s, bought from Russia ostensibly as a stopgap platform until China's J-20 stealth fighters were ready. Additionally, Maya Carlin mentions in an August 2023 article for 1945 that China has already produced 200-250 J-20 stealth fighters, marking a significant surge in production since the type was first unveiled in 2011. It is also unlikely that Taiwan will ever operate US stealth aircraft, such as the F-35. In a December 2021 Aviation Geek Club article, Zack Lu says that the US has zero expectation that Taiwan will hold out against a Chinese invasion. He notes any US military equipment sold to Taiwan will end up in China's hands if Taiwan capitulates. He mentions that all US military items sold to Taiwan are either older or current-generation systems, which are of little value to China when reverse-engineered. He says the F-35 is considered too cutting-edge to be compromised. In terms of sheer combat aircraft numbers, the US Department of Defense's 2024 China Military Power Report mentions that China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Aviation are the largest aviation forces in the Indo-Pacific and third-largest in the world, with 3,150 total aircraft, of which 2,400 are combat aircraft, with 1,900 fighters. Additionally, Admiral John Aquilino mentioned in a March 2024 US Senate Committee on Armed Services hearing that China will soon have the world's largest air force, following its current status as having the world's largest army and navy. Despite those disadvantages, Taiwan's new F-16V jets may offer the self-governing island a much-needed airpower boost. Shu Hsiao-Huang mentions in a Taipei Times article published last month that Taiwan's new F-16V jets are equipped with the General Electric F110 engine; these jets deliver 13,154.18 kilograms of thrust, surpassing the older F-16A/B models and enabling greater weapon-mounting capacity. Shu notes other advanced features, including the APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar, a helmet-mounted cueing system and an electronic warfare suite. He also says the jets boast a larger air intake and a US18E ejection seat. Further, Taiwan's new F-16V jets may be compatible with newer US munitions, significantly enhancing their effectiveness in standoff strikes. Last month, The War Zone reported that the US is integrating the AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) onto F-16V fighters, significantly enhancing their anti-ship capabilities. The report states that the LRASM's stealth and adaptability surpass those of the older AGM-84 Harpoon, which Taiwan currently has, offering a range of up to 965 kilometers. However, Kitsch Liao mentions in a Newsweek article published ast month that an air-launched LRASM capability for Taiwan might not survive China's initial onslaught, rendering it useless to China's amphibious landing group. In line with that, Sebastian Roblin points out in a March 2020 article for The National Interest (TNI) that for Taiwan's outnumbered fighters to make any impact, they must get off the ground – a task that may be impossible given the 1,300 ballistic missiles and hundreds of sea, air, and land-based cruise missiles China can array against the self-governing island. While Roblin notes that Taiwan has hardened underground air bases, its fighters may be bottled up if the runways are destroyed. Though he says that Taiwan could use highways as makeshift runways, the tempo of such operations would be sporadic at best. However, the biggest challenge for Taiwan's airpower may not be the self-governing island's resource constraints but rather the inefficient US arms sales processes. In a War on the Rocks article from last month, Kevin Ting-Chen Sun and Howard Shen mention that late deliveries of F-16 jets from US defense companies critically undermine Taiwan's defense capabilities amid escalating regional tensions. Sun and Shen note that Taiwan's new F-16Vs faced delays due to pandemic-related supply chain disruptions, pushing the timeline to mid-2024. Compounding this issue, they point out that the F-16A/B upgrade program, which includes essential components such as electronic warfare pods and AGM-154C glide bombs, has been postponed from 2023 to 2026. They stress that these delays hinder Taiwan's air defense modernization, leaving its forces reliant on outdated systems and eroding public confidence in defense spending. They emphasize that systematic inefficiencies in US arms sales execution exacerbate Taiwan's vulnerability. In the end, Taiwan's F-16Vs may sharpen its defenses but without timely deliveries and an answer to China's overwhelming missile and airpower advantage, they risk becoming just another symbol of Taipei's shrinking military options.
