F-16 indonesios modernizados portarán JDAM

Air Force F-16 aircraft upgraded, equipped with sophisticated JDAM bombs

Four F-16 / B are undergoing the EMLU - Falcon STAR program (photo: TNI AU)

TEMPO.CO, Magetan - A total of four F-16 A / B Block 15 aircraft The Indonesian Air Force underwent rejuvenation at the Skadron Teknik (Skatek) hangar 042 Iswahjudi Field, Magetan Regency, East Java. One of them is targeted to be completed in June - July 2019.

Commander Skatek 042 Iswahjudi Air Force Base, Major Tek Agustinus Subagio, said that the F-16 aircraft rejuvenation program was an Enhanced Mid-Life Update (EMLU) project - The Falcon Structural Augmentation Rodmap (Falcon STAR). The implementation takes place since September 2017.

"These are two programs that are put together so that the time is more efficient," said Subagio, Thursday, March 15, 2019.

According to him, dozens of technicians from the Air Force and PT Dirgantara Indonesia were involved in the project. The personnel did a number of jobs, such as removing panels and aircraft components, carrying out monitoring, control and evaluation.

"There are two to three people from Lockheed Martin (an American F-16 aircraft manufacturer) who assist supervision," he said.



GBU-54 JDAM Laser Bomb (photo: Combat Workshop)

The work, Subagio continued, will last for the next few years. Because, the total number of F-16 A / B Block 15 aircraft that must be upgraded is 10 units. All the main weapons systems were purchased in the Bima Sena Peace Program in 1989.

"After this (upgrading), the age of flight will be longer between 15.20 and even 25 years," Subagio told Tempo.

The avionics system that is updated through the EMLU-Falcon STAR project, such as the installation of Beyond Range missiles that have a range of more than 30 kilometers. Also, the Fire Control Radar and Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) are bombs equipped with laser guides.

For the procurement of spare parts, Commander Skatek 042 explained, there are two types of contracts in this EMLU-Falcon Star project. The first uses a mechanism with partners, Direct Direct Sales (DCS) and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Government to Government.

Subagio, who is also the EMLU-Falcon STAR project secretary, said he was proud of the work. Because, able to improve the ability of the Air Force technicians. Moreover, the work was only done for the first time. "For overseas, this work is included in the maintenance depot," he said.


Tempo