(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – The Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) F-16 fighter jets have been upgraded to enhance their capabilities and ensure they can continue to serve the republic until the mid-2030s, according to the Ministry of Defence Singapore.
The upgrading work for Singapore’s F-16 aircraft is estimated to be worth US$2.4 billion (RM10.8 billion).
Among the latest capabilities of the F-16 C/D/D+ fighter jets is the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar AN/APG-83 SABR (Scalable Agile Beam Radar) developed by Northrop Grumman to enable it to track and destroy targets from a greater distance and in all weather conditions.
In addition, these fighter jets are equipped with enhanced ground attack capabilities to enable them to engage targets with precision-guided munitions.
In 2019, Singapore announced that it would acquire four fifth-generation F-35B (VSTOL) fighter jets, and later decided to increase the acquisition to eight more F-35B aircraft.
The F-35B aircraft, which Singapore will begin receiving in 2026, will replace the F-16s that the RSAF started using in 1998 and will become obsolete after the 2030s.
Singapore initiated efforts to enhance the capabilities of its F-16 aircraft in 2016, and these efforts have continued to the present day.
In addition to the AESA radar, Singapore’s F-16 aircraft will also be equipped with the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS), which gives pilots the “first-look, first-shoot” capability, allowing them to target their weapons simply by looking at the target.
The JHMCS system also provides various information to the pilot, such as altitude, target distance, and speed, without the need to look at the cockpit during aerial combat.
With JHMCS, Singapore’s F-16 aircraft can be integrated with air-to-air guided missiles like AIM-9X, as well as the GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb.
Furthermore, the upgraded Singaporean F-16 aircraft will also be able to carry and launch GBU-49/50 Enhanced Paveway II Dual-Mode Guided Bombs and CBU-105 Sensor-Fuzed weapons.
Recently, Singapore also confirmed that its upgraded F-16 fighter jets are now equipped with the air-to-air guided missile “Python-5,” developed by Rafael Advance Defense Systems.
Considered one of the most advanced air-to-air guided missiles in the world, the Python-5 is capable of destroying air targets at a range of 20 km.
The use of the “Python-5” air-to-air guided missile by Singapore’s F-16 aircraft is expected due to commonality factors, as the republic’s air defense system also employs the “Spyder” system, which uses “Python-5” and “Derby” guided missiles.
The Python-5 is a dual-use guided missile, suitable for both air-to-air and ground-to-air applications, and it integrates an imaging seeker, modern software, advanced infrared counter-countermeasure (IRCCM), and flight control systems.
The total weight of the Python-5 guided missile is 105 kg, with the ability to carry an 11 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead equipped with an active laser proximity fuse.
With air-to-ground weapon systems, Singapore’s F-16 aircraft also have the capability to precisely target ground targets during both day and night using weapons systems like the Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition.
In addition, the upgraded F-16 fighter jets of Singapore are equipped with Link-16 and Electronic Warfare (EW) suites.
The upgrading program for Singapore’s F-16C/D/D+ aircraft is being carried out by Lockheed Martin and ST Engineering Aerospace.
The Singapore Air Force has 62 F-16C/D Block 52 fighter jets, with 14 of them stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, USA, and 48 stationed at air bases within Singapore. — DSA
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