Ankara is modernizing the fighters with its own capabilities, in particular, integrating its own communication system with them.
The Turkish Air Force received the first F-16 fighter, which was upgraded by Turkish companies. This was announced on May 18 on Twitter by the head of the country’s defense industry department, Ismail Demir.
The aircraft modernization project was initiated by the Department of Defense Industry under the Turkish Presidential Administration. It was named ÖZGÜR (Free).
As part of the project, the aircraft was replaced with radars, control systems, avionics, etc., which made it possible to increase the service life of the F-16 from 8,000 to 12,000 hours.
Savunma sanayiimizin yerli ve milli sistemlerle ÖZGÜR’leştirdiği ilk F-16’larımız teslim ettik.
Bundan sonra F-16’larımız çok daha ilire kabiliyetlere sahib, modernize ışmış sılı Hava Kuvvetlerımışın ıştımın devam edekek. Türkiye Yuzyılı’na armagan olsun! pic.twitter.com/Xf4SktldYM
— Ismail Demir (@IsmailDemirSSB) May 18, 2023
According to Anadolu Agency, the modernization process intended for Block 40 and 50 F-16 aircraft will ensure their use in the 2040s.
An important part of the modernization is the integration into the aircraft of a new communication system that identifies other aircraft as “friend or foe.”
It was noted that thanks to the Turkish communication system, F-16 pilots will be able to communicate with UAVs, as well as with other aircraft and offshore platforms.
Recall that in April, the Turkish Hurjet supersonic jet aircraft successfully completed its first flight.
news Correspondent.net on Telegram. Subscribe to our channel Athletistic
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.