The Turkish
Defence Industries Agency (DIA) President Professor İsmail Demir said this on
August 10;
“We will definitely
modernise the F-16 ourselves. And we did very well. In addition, the mission
computer and other avionics elements equipped with the national system can be
used as a completely internal system. Undoubtedly, the Block 40 and Block 50
F-16s will receive these upgrades.”
Demir
believes the Özgür Program is fully compatible with the Block 40 and 50 F-16s. This
belief is due to the modernisation of the F-16 Block 30, which Turkiye has
already begun under the same program. Last June, Turkiye announced that 35
Block 30 F-16s would be modernised under this program. The program is expected
to start at the end of the year.
The modernisation
program includes the national mission computer, system interface module, front
control panel over the cockpit, hydraulic fuel gauge, engine shield, emergency
indicator, national voice safety device, friend-of-foe identification (IFF),
multi-mode receiver, inertial navigation system, and others.
Turkish F-16
pilot helmets will also receive an upgrade.
It is expected that an integrated helmet targeting system, indicators in the central cockpit and a colour multifunction display will be integrated.
Turkiye also
intends to modernise its F-16s with AESA radars developed by Aselsan.
The missile can
locate and track targets over long distances and be unaffected by weather
conditions.
