US DSCA (Defense Security Cooperation Agency) notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Turkey of 30 more F-16C Block 50 aircraft, as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $2.9 billion. This sale is in addition to Turkey’s $1.1 billion upgrade program for its existing F-16 fleet, which aims to bring all of its aircraft to a common configuration. More than 200 F-16 aircraft currently make up the backbone of Turkey’s current fighter fleet, and this marks the 52nd follow-on buy of F-16s by 14 repeat customers. Over 4,300 F-16s have been delivered to 24 nations. Turkey is one of 5 countries that has built F-16s locally (USA, Belgium, Netherlands, South Korea, Turkey), and the final Turkish F-16 under this contract will be delivered in 2013. Turkey’s rival Greece recently bought 30 F-16 Block 50/52 Plus aircraft. While the Hellenic Air force has decided to pass on the option for an additional 10 F-16s and delayed consideration of new fighters beyond 2011, Turkey joined the F-35’s production planning phase in 2007. If they decide to continue, production orders will be placed; meanwhile, the Government of Turkey is moving ahead with its F-16 fleet expansion plans.
This article will cover the deal as its component contracts and agreements come together. The latest items include a major purchase of targeting pods, giving the TuAF a new level of ground strike capability…
Contracts and Key Events
May 23/11: Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI) and Lockheed Martin unveil the first of 30 new Turkish-built F-16 Block 50 fighters, in ceremonies today at TAI’s facility near Ankara. The delivery is early – it was supposed to happen in July.
Dec 24/09: Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, TX receives a $7.2 million contract to incorporate Engineering Change Proposal 2746 and buy 35 wide angle raster heads up display units for Turkey’s most recent “Peace Onyx IV” order of F-16 aircraft. At this time, the entire amount has been committed under management of the 312th AES/SYK at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH (FA8615-07-C-6034).Dec 11/09: Lockheed Martin Corp. in Orlando FL receives a $118.3 million contract from Turkey for AN/AAQ-33 Sniper ATP and 3rd generation AN/AAQ-13 low altitude navigation and targeting infrared for night (LANTIRN ER) pods. At this time, $59.1 million was obligated. The 448 SMG/PKHCB at Robins Air Force Base, GA manages this contract on Turkey’s behalf (FA8522-10-C-0002).
The Sept 29/08 DSCA request, listed below, was for 30 Sniper ATP and 30 LANTIRN pods. The new LANTIRN ER navigation pods are upgraded versions that include terrain-following radar, a 3rd generation mid-wave FLIR, enhanced image signal processing and increased image quality, and design improvements to reduce cost of ownership.
July 22/09: ITT Corporation announces that its AIDEWS system has successfully completed software development activitie, as proven by successful completion of the Design Verification Test (DVT), and subsequent acceptance of the final Operational Flight Program by the USAF.
The hardware development was already complete, and AIDEWS systems have been delivered since 2005, to “multiple F-16 international customers,” with an initial software version designed for pilot familiarization and training. This final software version is being formally released by the U.S. Air Force, in preparation for retrofit installs to existing F-16 international customers beginning in early 2010.
Feb 27/09: ITT Corporation announces that it has has won a $99.8 million competitive award to supply its AIDEWS advanced electronic warfare systems and linked countermeasures dispensers for the Turkish Air Force’s 30 new F-16 Block 50Ms. Under the contract, ITT will modify the Turkish Air Force mission systems and deliver associated spares, support equipment, training, engineering services, and data.
AIDEWS (AN/ALQ-211v4) has already been integrated into F-16s flown by Chile, Oman, Pakistan, and Poland. This contract is managed through Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base, GA, and delivery of the systems will begin in 2010. See ALQ-211 family datasheet [PDF].
Feb 25/09: Lockheed Martin Corp. of Fort Worth, TX receives a $797.1 million contract modification to provide 14 F-16C and 16 F-16D Block 50 aircraft to the Government of Turkey.
At this time, $682.2 million of Foreign Military Sales funds has been committed. The 312 AESG/SYKA at Wright-Patterson AFB manages the contract (FA8615-07-C-6034, PZ0005).
Feb 23/09: General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products announces a 5-year, $39 contract from Lockheed Martin for F-16 Ammunition Handling Systems (AHS). The initial order is $8.9 million, covering guns that will equip Turkey’s 30 new F-16C/D Block 50s, and Morocco’s 24 new F-16C/D Block 52s. Final assembly will be performed at GDATP’s Saco Operations facility in Saco, Maine, with testing and program management performed at the company’s Burlington Technology Center in Burlington, VT. Deliveries will begin in April 2010.
The General Dynamics F-16 Ammunition Handling System utilizes a closed-loop, linkless feed system, giving it greater ammunition capacity than previous designs and eliminating potential damage from ejected ammunition casings. The system is combined with GDATP’s M61A1 20mm Gatling gun.
Sept 29/08: The US DSCA announces [PDF] Turkey’s official request to buy 30 AN/ Sniper Extended Range Targeting Pods, and 30 AN/AAQ-13 LANTIRN Extended Range Navigation Pods. Turkey would also receive containers, flight tests, integration, digital cartridge interface, spare and repair parts, and other forms of support.
While the pods were not mentioned in the original DSCA request, the numbers strongly suggest a connection with the new F-16s. The estimated cost is $200 million, and Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control Company in Orlando, FL will be the prime contractor. While Turkey is a Muslim country, its defense forces are regular customers for Israeli equipment; unlike Pakistan or Saudi Arabia, therefore, RAFAEL/Northrop Grumman’s LITENING surveillance and targeting pods would have been a competitive possibility.
Implementation of this proposed sale may require the assignment of U.S. Government and contractor representatives to Turkey for integration efforts, and the purchase will require U.S. government and contractor personnel for conduct annual, one-week Program Management Reviews in Turkey. See also
StrategyPage, who discusses the pods’ importance and potential uses, but is likely to be off on the implied delivery timing. These things usually take longer than some of the short-term missions they suggest.
Feb 29/08: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics of Fort Worth, TX received a contract for $6.2 million as part of Turkey’s buy of 30 F-16 aircraft. This is a foreign military sales procurement to incorporate items included in the May 2007 Letter of Offer and Acceptance’s (LOA) amendment 1. At this time $4.7 million has been obligated. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH issued the contract (FA8615-07-C-6043 P00003).
Dec 7/07: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., of Linthicum Heights, MD received an indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity and firm-fixed price contract for $730 million covering up to 54 AN/APG-68v9 radar systems. These radars are standard in F-16 C/D aircraft.
The first delivery order under the contract covers 30 radar systems for the government of Turkey, which will be accomplished under the firm fixed price portion of the contract and obligate $36 million. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH holds the contract (FA8615-08-D-6035, D001).
July 27/07: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. in Fort Worth, TX received a firm-fixed-price contract for $186.9 million “for the purchase of thirty (30) F-16 Block 50 aircraft, along with associated support equipment, alternative mission equipment, and support elements for the Government of Turkey’s Under Secretarial for Defense Industries for the Peace Onyx IV F-16 Block 50 Aircraft Procurement Program.” This effort supports foreign military sales to Turkey. At this time, $110.1 million has been obligated.
Discussions with Lockheed reveal that the DefenseLINK wording is misleading. The contract covers only long-lead items, parts/equipment that require a longer time to acquire; the rest of the contracts will be finalized over the next 12-18 month under the arrangements set out in the May 2007 LOA. Solicitations began April 2007, negotiations were completed in July 2007, and work will be complete January 2009. The Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH issued the contract
May 11/07: Lockheed Martin announces that the governments of Turkey and the United States have signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) for the sale of 30 additional F-16 Block 50 aircraft to Turkey. The new aircraft include the same systems being installed on Turkey’s existing F-16 fleet as part of an on-going upgrade program. At the conclusion of these two programs, therefore, all Turkish F-16s will be in a common, advanced configuration.
The total LOA value for the 30 aircraft and equipment is approximately $1.8 billion; Lockheed Martin and its supplier base will receive approximately $1.1 billion of this amount. Final assembly and delivery of the aircraft will be performed at TUSAS Aerospace Industries (TAI) in Turkey, furthering the longstanding business relationship between Lockheed Martin and TAI.
Sept 28/06: The DSCA notifies Congress that the Government of Turkey has requested new F-16s, along with system integration and testing, software development/integration, test sets and support equipment, simulation units, link pods, spare and repair parts, publications and technical data, maintenance, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor representatives’ program support services, contractor engineering and technical support services, and other related elements of logistics support.
