Lockheed Martin: F-16V integrates over 180 types of weapons and has a lifespan of 12,000 flight hours

Lockheed Martin publicly demonstrated the F-16V (Viper) fighter jet in 2012, and this configuration was subsequently developed into the basis for the F-16 Block 70/72. (Taken from Airforce Technology/Lockheed Martin)

[Compiled by Chen Chengliang/Comprehensive Report] What is the weapon integration capability of the new F-16V aircraft that Taiwan is about to receive? U.S. military giant Lockheed Martin (hereinafter referred to as Lockheed Martin) stated that the F-16 Block 70/72 has completed the integration certification of more than 180 weapons and mission equipment, and has accumulated more than 3,300 empirically verified weapon mounting and delivery configurations.

The European defense website "Defence Industry Europe" reported that Lockheed Martin pointed out that the company has accumulated more than 36 years of F-16 weapon integration experience, and has cooperated with the U.S. Air Force and multinational customers to complete the integration of more than 180 weapons and mission equipment, as well as more than 3,300 experience-proven mounting and delivery configurations, enabling F-16 Block 70/72 to integrate various types of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons and mission equipment according to different mission requirements.

The F-16 Block 70/72 uses the AN/APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar manufactured by Northrop Grumman. Lockheed Martin said that the radar introduces F-22 and F-35 related radar technology, which can improve target detection, tracking and ground synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging capabilities.

The fighter cockpit is equipped with a high-resolution central cockpit display (CPD), which can display color moving maps, air combat situations and flight data, and can integrate the "Sniper" calibration pod and the "Legion-ES" infrared search and track (IRST) system.

Lockheed Martin stated that the structural life of Block 70/72 reaches 12,000 flight hours, which is more than 50% longer than the early F-16. Under normal operation and maintenance conditions, the service life can reach at least 40 years.

In addition, Block 70/72 can be equipped with a back-fitting fuel tank (CFT) to increase fuel capacity while maintaining aerodynamic performance; the airframe also uses upgraded engines and a new pilot ejection seat.