Boeing, BAE Systems Compete for F-16 Upgrade Work

Korea is one of many countries seeking to upgrade their F-16s. Lockheed Martin is facing competition from BAE Systems and Boeing for the work. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

 

 

July 13, 2012, 2:50 PM

Competition in the F-16 upgrade market is heating up, with Boeing joining BAE Systems in challenging Lockheed Martin’s dominance as OEM. Boeing is touting the experience it gained recently in converting F-16s to unmanned drones for the U.S. Air Force. BAE Systems continues to emphasize its 270-aircraft upgrade for the U.S. National Guard, as a basis for securing international work.
“Each customer’s need for F-16 upgrade work is different; there is not a stock solution. They need choice and competition,” said Floyd McConnell, vice president for integrated aviation solutions at BAE Systems. Speaking at the Farnborough show, he said that the needs could be divided into four categories: evolving threats, avionics modernization, obsolescence management and long-term support. BAE Systems’ new commercial fire control computer (CFCC) is the glue that could bind the various parts of the F-16’s mission systems, said McConnell. He added that BAE Systems is agnostic regarding the rival merits of the new AESA radars that Northrop Grumman and Raytheon have proposed for the Fighting Falcon.


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