The Netherlands has supplied Ukraine with American F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters, but one of them has already been shot down. In total, Amsterdam promises to supply kyiv with 24 F-16s out of the 42 aircraft currently in the country’s air force. Profile magazine has published an overview of the fighter’s capabilities and attempts to answer the question of how formidable this aircraft is as an adversary.
The Royal Netherlands Air Force adopted the F-16 in 1979. Today, these machines are gradually being replaced by more modern F-35 fighters, and the remaining F-16s are being transferred to other countries, including Ukraine.
Initially, the F-16 was designed to last 20 years, but in 1998 a major modernization program (Mid-Life Update, MLU) was launched, which increases its service life by another 20 years. This program includes the replacement of most of the onboard systems, as well as the engine. The upgraded vehicle receives a new radar, two multifunctional indicators, new onboard computers and sensors, a communication system, GPS equipment, an expanded range of weapons, etc.
A key element of the upgrade package is a modular control computer from Texas Instruments, which coordinates the operation of sensors, weapons and other systems, and also provides the pilot with an improved interface that makes it easier to control the machine. The new computer replaced three modules that were installed on the “old” F-16s: the fire control system, the electronic display unit and the enlarged central interface unit of the aircraft inventory management system.
The fire control system radar has also been upgraded: it has been fitted with a new combined signal processing processor. It now provides seven times the processing speed and 20 times the memory capacity. And the resolution it displays in ground mapping mode has been quadrupled.
The new wide-angle sight (WAC HUD) increases the field of view and offers a number of new options, including the ability to conduct night operations. A set of two Honeywell active-matrix LCD multifunction displays (10×10 cm) replaced the old monochrome radar EOI unit and inventory control panel. And with the help of a programmable display generator, the F-16 MLU pilot can configure up to 12 different programs to display tactical and service information.
The upgraded aircraft was also equipped with an improved Hazeltine APX-113 identification friend or foe system with increased range.
Cabin and aircraft control system.
The F-16 MLU cockpit features color displays and night vision-compatible lighting. In this case, night vision goggles are included in the scope’s field of view.
The side control stick and the engine control lever of the aircraft have also undergone changes. They are now made according to the HOTAS concept (Hands On Throttle And Stick – hands on the throttle and the control stick at the same time). This allows you to change flight modes and control the weapon without taking your hands off the controls.
For example, a pilot can, without taking his hands off the handle, activate communications, interrogate a friend or foe, night vision mode, aim a weapon, etc. For comparison: in the non-modernized version of the F-16, to guide missiles, the pilot had to remove his left hand from the engine control lever, lower his gaze and perform a number of manipulations that were already in the combat course.
F-16 Network-Centric Functionality
Data is exchanged with other aircraft or ground control using an advanced data modem (IDM) developed by the US Naval Research Laboratory in collaboration with Symetrics Inc. The device’s functionality integrates the ability to work in the Link 16 integrated tactical information dissemination system, making the fighter one of the nodes in the combat information network.
The electronic warfare control system from the Danish company Terma Elektronik AS provides centralized control of a complex of electronic warfare equipment, including the installation of false radars and thermal targets. The aircraft is equipped with a miniature onboard GPS receiver from Rockwell-Collins, which determines the exact location of the aircraft and supports its navigation and weapons systems. The upgraded F-16 is also equipped with a digital terrain scanning system, which, in combination with GPS, not only provides the most accurate navigation, but also makes low-altitude flights safer.
Fighter recognition capabilities.
The modernization within the framework of the MLU program allows for the attachment of containers with reconnaissance equipment to the F-16 without any modifications, which was previously impossible.
Naturally, the changes affected the engine and the fuselage of the vehicle: the design of the latter was reinforced and adapted to new systems, the engine became more powerful (14,590 hp in cruise mode and 23,770 hp in afterburner) and received a digital control system that improves its operation in all flight modes.
The upgraded F-16 can be equipped with various weapons, reconnaissance and target designation systems:
- The guidance/targeting module provides information about ground targets and pinpoints the exact location of GPS-guided bombs/missiles. There is a built-in laser for laser-guided bomb correction, as well as a system that calculates the best time to drop bombs.
- RecceLite is an advanced photo-reconnaissance system. Camera images can be sent to ground specialists during flight for analysis. The system is also used for route reconnaissance and improvised explosive device detection.
- Electronic warfare container for creating electronic interference.
- The range of weapons allows the use of AIM-120 AGM-84, AGM-154 AGM-158 JASSM and GBU-10, GBU-12, GBU-24, GBU-15 bombs.
Combat use in Ukraine
What options for using the F-16 can be implemented in Ukraine? Typically, this fighter was used by NATO and Israel in conjunction with the Link 16 unified information control and guidance system. It is difficult to say whether the Ukrainian military has full access to it, but it cannot be ruled out, given that this system is used in Himars multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS).
Cut off from NATO’s information infrastructure, the fighters transferred to kyiv are unlikely to be fully utilized, i.e. they can only be used as flying launchers for extended-range cruise missiles – AGM-158 (JASSM). In different versions, this missile has a range of 370 to 920 km. Its warhead weighs 450 kg, including 108 kg of explosives, and can hit highly protected targets.
When using Link 16 and data from NATO AWACS aircraft, information will be uploaded to the missile’s “head” directly in flight; the aircraft can be guided remotely without having to turn on the radar, making it difficult for our fighters and air defense systems to detect it.
As a result, the combat use of American fighters may look like this: F-16s with suspended missiles take off from domestic airfields and launch cruise missiles from a distance that excludes damage to Russian air defense systems and fighters. After which they immediately leave. Guidance is carried out using NATO AWACS aircraft via Link 16. This hypothesis is also supported by the possible transfer to the Ukrainian side of S-100B Argus AWACS aircraft, which are equipped with the Ericsson FSR 890 Erieye radar complex and the Link 11 and Link 16 systems.
It is possible that the takeoff will be carried out from domestic airfields in Romania and Poland, then landing at the jump airfield for refueling on the territory of Ukraine, then taking off and returning to the base.
Another application is the destruction of air targets such as drones, cruise missiles, fighter-bombers, attack aircraft and attack helicopters of the Russian Aerospace Forces. For these purposes, the F-16’s weapons complex includes medium-range air-to-air missiles AIM-120С7 (launch range up to 120 km) and short-range AIM-9X Sidewinder (launch range up to 35 km).
Air strikes using AIM-120С7 missiles and the Link-16 system could create problems for Russian attack aircraft and helicopters supporting ground forces, as well as significantly complicate the work of our front-line fighter-bombers attacking fortified areas and enemy bases with controlled aerial bombs.
Do not forget that the F-16 is equipped with AGM-88 anti-radar missiles and guns to destroy air defense systems. The range of these missiles is about 150 km. A special feature of their combat use is that they have the ability to attack not only actively operating radars, but also those that are turned off – the HARM homing head remembers the radar coordinates after its operation stops. By the way, the Ukrainian Air Force has already used these missiles from its fighters, but they were unable to cause serious damage to Russian air defense.
The F-16’s weapons package may also include a large set of guided bombs. Of course, the use of this weapon will be very risky, since the aircraft will have to approach the combat line and do so at a significant altitude, which greatly increases the likelihood of being attacked by Russian air defense forces and Su-35 and Su-30 fighters.
Overall, the F-16 is a serious adversary that should not be underestimated, especially if it is not Ukrainian pilots who will be behind its joysticks, but well-trained Western pilots, because there are plenty of “pensioners” in the world who want to tickle their nerves in combat operations.
