Indonesia Upgrades F-16 AM/BM Fighter Jets to EMLU Standard

The Indonesian Air Force (KASU) has upgraded 7 out of 10 F-16 AM/BM aircraft in its inventory to the enhanced mid-life upgrade (EMLU)  standard under which the air frames have been structurally reinforced, and received improved avionics besides an interrogator antennae for an identification friend-or-foe (IFF) system.

"The F-16 AM/BM has experienced improvements in avionics and structural capabilities. We named it the F-16 EMLU. The plan was for 10 aircraft, now there are 7 aircraft," said KSAU chief, Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo during an event at the Iswahjudi Air Base, Madiun on Friday.

With this increased capability, the KASU chief said, the F-16 AM/BM aircraft is capable of carrying out combat with smart munitions, guided, and can carry out beyond visual range (combat).”

The KASU also has F-16 C/D Aircraft equipped with  to air-to-air and air to ground missiles, as well as very sophisticated avionic systems.

In addition to the F-16s, the T-50 combat trainer aircraft has also been upgraded. “The T-50 aircraft also now has quite capable weapons because it is equipped with radar and guns which previously did not exist,” he said.

The upgraded F-16s and T-50 should fill the capability gap till the Rafale jets arrive in the coming 2 years. "We really hope for this because we are filling in for the arrival of Rafale aircraft which will arrive in 2026," added the KSAU chief.