F-16V, New Avatar Of F-16 Fighter, Unveiled At The Singapore Air Show

Lockheed Martin today announced the F-16V Fighting Falcon, the latest version of the world’s most successful fighter aircraft, at the Singapore Air Show 2012. The aircraft comes fitted with an active electronically scanning array(AESA) radar, an upgraded mission computer and cockpit improvements which will significantly enhances the operational capability of the aircraft. The aircraft will be offered to existing as well as potential customers looking for an avanced fourth generation fighter, said George Standridge, Lockheed Martin Vice President of business development. The F16V is a natural step in the evolution of the world’s most successful fourth generation fighter and succeeds the F-16 Block 60 version. Lockheed Martin has developed an innovative solution to affordably retrofit the AESA radar into existing F-16s, Standridge said adding that the F-16V configuration is an option for new production jets and elements of the upgrade are available for most earlier F-16s. The “V” designation is derived from Viper, the name fighter pilots have called the F-16. The F-16v is intended to satisfy customers’ emerging needs and prepare them to better interoperate with fifth generation fighters such as the F-35 and F-22.