Jeffrey G. Canclini aka “Canman” India Flight Trials Lead speaks to SP’s Photo Journalist Abhishek Singh about the AESA Radar, a key feature of the F-16IN Super Viper during an exclusive media tour to Lockheed Martin’s F-16IN manufacturing unit in Dallas, Texas.
Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar
The AESA radar is a key feature of F-16IN Super Viper and according to Lockheed Martin officials; it was the core requirement of IAF. The radar is a discriminator in multirole combat aircraft when network operations are unavailable or when the fighter aircraft’s RF has been raised to a higher level by the carriage of external stores.
The Northrop Grumman APG-80 AESA radar in the F-16IN provides outstanding situational awareness and detection, ultrahigh-resolution synthetic aperture radar mapping, fully interleaved modes of operations with automatic terrain following, and air-to-air tracking of multiple targets. AESA radars are more “operator friendly.” The radar has the ability to maintain tracks on targets while continuing to search for new contacts, while also allocating time to perform air-to-surface operations such as an attack on a surface target or even a resource intensive task such as radar guided terrain. The final benefit of the AESA radar is increased reliability and reduced planned maintenance.
Net-Centric Warfare Capability
The fusion of net-centric operations and onboard data provides a total battle space picture and optimises mission accomplishment. The F-16 was the first multi-role fighter to incorporate a data link capability, and the IAF's Operational Data Link (ODL) can be integrated onto the F-16IN in order to ensure interoperability with other IAF aircraft.
Modern, all-digital glass cockpit
The pilots receive easy-to-interpret information via the all-digital cockpit and helmet-mounted cueing system. The large colour displays are capable of fusing data from on-and-off-board sensors, reducing the workload and enabling the pilot to focus on the mission.
Advanced Survivability Features
The low radar signature of the F-16IN reduces detection by enemy radars. Its single-engine design has smaller infrared and visual signature than twin-engine fighters. The internal electronic warfare system avoids or defeats the most advanced threats. Superior agility and excellent pilot situational awareness reduce vulnerability to attack, while critical systems redundancy and shielding enhance survivability.
Enhanced High Thrust Engine
The F-16IN offers the highest thrust engine in the competition, the General Electric F110-132A. It has 32,000 pounds of thrust with an unprecedented record of safety, reliability, maintainability and durability. The F110 incorporates the latest technology including full authority digital engine control for maximum fuel efficiency and performance.
Cockpit overview
The F-16IN cockpit displays and controls are fully integrated revamped to quickly convey the information and simplify operations for the pilot. The pilot receives mission and tactical information via the full colour, all digital glass cockpit and a Helmet Mounted Display (HMD). Electronic displays incorporating graphics, digital data and colour alerts replace traditional engine and flight instrumentation speeding up the pilot’s cognitive processing of system status.
Proven Combat and Operational Effectiveness
- Over 400,000 combat hours
- More air-to-air victories (72-0)
- Over 100,000 combat missions flown
- Over 2,200,000 ordnance delivered in combat
- Over one million operational sorties in support of the global war against terror
