Aircraft upgrades are a more economical way of sharpening the combat edge of existing fighter fleets around Asia Pacific.
With geopolitical tensions continuing to grow in Asia Pacific, regional air forces are striving to keep their in-service combat aircraft mission-ready and relevant through upgrades while acquiring next-generation platforms. For the less-resourced countries, upgrading existing aircraft can extend their operational life, making them more cost-effective for their limited budgets compared to acquiring completely new platforms.
With the average age of regional combat aircraft fleets already well into their teens and beyond, air forces are cognisant of the fact that rapid technological evolution in avionics, electronics, and weaponry results in accelerated obsolescence of their aircraft if not addressed in a timely manner.
Moreover, there is an observable shift toward more advanced multirole platforms capable of meeting various operational requirements. Besides domestic air defence requirements, regional air forces may also need to upgrade their aircraft fleets to fulfil commitments to their allies and partners, such as being a part of a collective security arrangement or participating in multinational exercises.
Northrop F-5 Tiger
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has the distinction of being one of the few remaining countries in the region to operate the Northrop F-5 Tiger light fighters, with the service doubling down on extending the operational life of 14 active F-5E Tiger II single-seat and twin-seat F/5F aircraft into the F5TH Super Tigris standard under a long-running, two-phase Capability Improvement Project for the type.
This programme commenced in 2018, and represented the ageing light fighters’ third major upgrade package since they were delivered to the RTAF in 1978.
The RTAF told AMR in a statement that enhancements of the aerostructure and core mission systems of these aircraft had been developed jointly by local companies RV Connex and Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) in cooperation with Israel’s Elbit Systems. The first phase comprised the modernisation of 10 aircraft, followed by four more in the second phase.
The service did not reveal the total cost of the Super Tigris programme, but Elbit Systems announced in August 2017 that it had been awarded a $96 million contract to upgrade the F-5 fighter fleet over a three-year period for an undisclosed Asia Pacific country, which is widely understood to be Thailand. The first two F-5s were updated by Elbit Systems, but upgrade work on the subsequent aircraft were performed by Thai personnel.
“We are proud to have been selected to perform this upgrade programme, building on our vast know-how and experience in F-5 modernisation projects,” said Elbit Systems Aerospace Division general manager Yoram Shmuely. “We have witnessed a growing demand for similar upgrades, and we trust that further customers will follow, benefiting from a mature aircraft upgraded with the most advanced technology in the market.”
The RTAF explained that upgrade work focussed on enhancing the fighters’ detection, self-defence and weapons systems, as well as the indigenously developed Link-T tactical datalink for increased interoperability with its Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D and Lockheed Martin F-16A/B multirole combat aircraft.
Threat detection and tracking performance was improved with the Elta Systems ELM-2032 multimode fire control radar, while cockpit avionics were refreshed with a new mission computer, digital video and data recorder and two multifunction displays, along with AN/ARC-164 Have Quick II airborne radios. The environmental control system and heads-up display (HUD) up-front control panel were also updated. The F-5THs are also provisioned with Litening III targeting and Sky Shield jamming pods.
To maximise the effectiveness of new armaments such as the Diehl IRIS-T, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems I-Derby and Python-4 air-to-air missiles, as well as the Elbit Systems Lizard 3 laser-guided bombs, the RTAF opted for the Elbit Systems Display and Sight Helmet (DASH) IV head-mounted display system, which integrates the aircraft’s avionics, sensors, and weapons to enable the pilot to designate targets by simply looking at them.
“The upgraded aircraft are now fully capable of conducting daytime and nighttime missions, with the capability to engage more advanced threats as well as the ability to support network-centric operations,” said the RTAF, adding that structural improvements have also been extended by another 2,400 flight hours to 9,600 hours per aircraft.
Besides the F-5TH Super Tigris programme, the RTAF is also in the midst of upgrading its Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D fleet from Material Standard (MS) 19 standard to the MS20 standard by around 2025 to enhance their tactical capabilities. The effort is being led by Saab and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) using an allocated fund believed to be worth around $18.3 million.
Saab and the FMV did not disclose the detailed scope of work, but the company had previously marketed the full MS20 configuration as a package that comprises hardware and software upgrades to enhance the aircraft’s ability to perform air-to-air, air-to-surface, and intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. Separately, the RTAF 2020 White Paper indicates that the upgrades will likely involve improvements to the aircraft’s Operational Flight Programme (OFP) and the Operational Support Systems (OSS).
Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon
With five major operators of the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole combat aircraft in the Asia Pacific region, the market for aircraft upgrades for the type has been significant in recent years.
The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has embarked on a major upgrade effort to extend the operational lifespan of its fleet of around 20 F-16C and 40 F-16D Block 52/52+ aircraft with work being performed by ST Engineering Aerospace at its Paya Lebar facility. This upgrade programme will maintain the RSAF F-16-fleet’s ability to address emerging threats into the 2030s when the type is expected to be replaced by the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
In 2015, the Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) announced that the planned modernisation of the F-16 fleet would proceed with enhancements that centre on a new active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar – which remains undisclosed but is believed to be Northrop Grumman’s AN/APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) – that will “extend the F-16’s detection range and enable the fighter aircraft to track and engage multiple targets at greater distances” and “equip the F-16s with an all-weather ground-attack capability, enabling it to strike targets with more capable precision munitions such as the Laser JDAM [Joint Direct Attack Munition]”.
Specifics were not revealed, but an earlier US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announcement disclosed that equipment worth approximately $130 million had been requested by Singapore to support its F-16C/D upgrade effort. This included 12 Northrop Grumman LN-260 embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), 50 Boeing Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JMHCS), 90 BAE Systems AN/APX-126 Combined Interrogator/Transponders, and 92 Link 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT).
The DSCA also noted that the proposed sale includes additional requirements apart from an earlier request made in January 2014, which detailed several major upgrades worth up to $2.43 billion. Notable new additions are the Link 16 MIDS-LVT, which would enable the RSAF’s F-16s to share and receive data more readily with F-15SGs, as well as improving their interoperability with international partners.
“The [F-16] upgrade will extend their lifespan and ensure that they remain operationally relevant [until the 2030 timeframe],” said MINDEF. “The F-16s, when upgraded, will be enhanced with new sensors and weapons, among other improvements.”
Some of the upgrades to the F-16 fleet, however, were initially introduced under tight secrecy. For example, aircraft photography enthusiasts have for several years captured images of some aircraft carrying inert training missiles that physically resembled the Rafael’s Python short range air-to-air missile.
It was not until September 2023 that the RSAF finally acknowledged that it has integrated the Rafael’s Python-5 missile to upgraded examples of its F-16 fleet. The Python 5 features and advanced imaging infrared (IIR) seeker with an improved signal processing system and an improved onboard inertial measurement unit (IMU) that provides the weapon with off-boresight lock‐on‐after‐launch (LOAL) capabilities, providing capabilities that are believed to be on par with the latest version of the US-made Sidewinder missile, the AIM-9X.
The Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF) is another major regional operator of the F-16 that has completed the first phase of the ambitious $4.5 billion Peace Phoenix Rising upgrade programme which brought 139 of the service’s F-16A and F-16B aircraft to the F-16V (Block 70-72) standard, according to the US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC).
Under the Phoenix Rising programme, the RoCAF’s F-16 fleet underwent comprehensive upgrades, including the installation of an AESA radar system, targeting pods, communication systems, and precision navigation capabilities. As with the Singaporean programme, Phoenix Rising includes the Northrop Grumman APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar, a new mission computer, updates to the electronic warfare (EW) suite and avionics, as well as the integration of the AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and JDAMs.
The programme experienced delays in its initial development stage due the discovery of airframe corrosion and various technical issues, necessitating additional remedial work. This comprehensive upgrade effort, which commenced in 2016 and represents the most extensive F-16 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) retrofit effort in the world since the aircraft’s introduction in 1979, was led by Taiwanese company Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC). The first upgraded RoCAF F-16V handed over occurred in October 2018 at its Taichung facility. The final upgraded aircraft was delivered in December 2023.
Although the first phase had just been completed, more upgrade work is being pursued under the Peace Phoenix Rising 2 (PPR2) programme. The US Department of Defense (DoD) announced in April 2021 that Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $138 million contract modification for Taiwan’s programme, comprising the development and fielding of Lockheed Martin’s Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS) and the Raytheon AGM-88 High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM).
The contract also calls for improvements and updates to the aircrafts’ radar software and Data Acquisition System, as well as advanced Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems. Contract work is expected to be completed by September 2022.
Auto GCAS is a system developed by the NASA, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, and the US Air Force (USAF) and is intended to reduce controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) – essentially crashes caused by disorientated, overburdened, or even unconscious pilots – by 90 percent.
According to Lockheed Martin, the system comprises advanced collision avoidance and autonomous decision-making algorithms that utilise precise navigation, aircraft performance and on-board digital terrain data to determine if a ground collision is imminent. If a collision is expected and the pilot is unresponsive, the system will assume temporary command of the aircraft and perform an avoidance manoeuvre – a roll to wings-level position and a +5g pull – to divert the aircraft from ground impact.
Boeing F-15 Eagle
Several Asia Pacific air forces are also major operators of the twin-engine Boeing F-15 Eagle multirole combat aircraft, with upgrade efforts poised to kick off in Japan and South Korea while Singapore could be close to a decision.
Initial work of up to 68 of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF)’s license-manufactured Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) F-15J aircraft has already commenced after the US DoD awarded Boeing a $471.3 million FMS contract to launch the F-15 Japan Super Interceptor (JSI) programme. Many of these upgrades are comparable to those developed under Boeing’s Advanced Eagle programme, which has resulted in Qatar’s F-15QA, Saudi Arabia’s F-15SA, and the US F-15EX platforms.
According to the DoD, the deal provisions for the design and development of an integrated suite of aircraft systems to support modification of the JASDF’s F-15J aircraft and the development, test, and delivery of four weapon system trainers. Work will be performed by Boeing in St Louis, Missouri and is expected to be completed by 31 December 2028.
In October 2019, the DSCA announced that the JSI modification effort – potentially worth up to $4.5 billion – will see 98 (subsequently reduced to 68 by the Japanese side) single seat F-15J aircraft equipped with the Raytheon AN/APG-82(V)1 AESA radar, the Honeywell Advanced Display Core Processor II (ADCP II) mission computer, and the BAE Systems AN/ ALQ-239 Digital Electronic Warfare System (DEWS). Other enhancements include new aircraft radios and anti-spoofing GPS systems.
Another key system provisioned for is the BAE Systems AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS), which the company claims is a fully integrated digital radar warning, geolocation, situational awareness and self-protection solution to detect and defeat current and future surface and airborne threats in highly contested and dense EW environments, enabling the aircraft to penetrate deeper into hostile airspace protected by modern integrated air defence systems.
“Taking advantage of remaining aircraft life, this upgrade brings highly advanced sensors and avionics suite integrated in partnership with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on behalf of [JASDF], delivering contemporary capabilities to Japan at par with those in the current production F-15,” said Boeing. “F-15JSI is not just another upgrade program, it’s a total transformation of the jet.”
“As a key partner since 1978, Japan’s confidence in F-15 comes from the demonstrated performance with speed, range and payload and its future role,” the company added. “F-15JSI makes that performance relevant for the 21st Century.”
MHI was earlier selected to be the prime contractor for the Direct Commercial Sale (DCS) portion of the deal, with Boeing being a subcontractor in supporting integration of the FMS and DCS elements. The DCS agreement, which was announced by Boeing in July 2020, will see Boeing provide MHI with retrofit drawings, technical publications, and ground support equipment for the upgrade of the first two F-15J aircraft to the F-15JSI configuration. MHI will be responsible for developing detailed modification plans and putting in place the necessary infrastructure and skilled workforce.
South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on 22 March 2024 that the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF)’s F-15K ‘Slam Eagles’ will undergo a $2.9 billion Performance Improvement Project that will equip the F-15K fleet – believed to constitute around 59 aircraft – with the AN/APG-82 AESA radar, AN/ALQ-25 EPAWSS, while cockpit upgrades will centre on a Large Area Display (LAD) that will provide the crew with significantly improved all-weather and day/night situational awareness.
“[The project aims] to improve the performance of core components such as radar to improve the mission capability and survivability of the F-15K fighter aircraft operated by the [RoKAF],” DAPA said in a statement, noting that this effort will leverage on the US FMS mechanism.
“By improving quick and accurate target identification and strike capabilities through performance improvements and creating stable operating conditions, it is expected that the F-15K will be reborn as a core force in airspace defence by more effectively demonstrating its long-range mission capabilities and weapon loading capabilities,” added DAPA. According to DAPA, upgrade work will be performed from 2024 to 2034.
Conclusion
These modernised aircraft are not only more survivable but can also carry a wider variety of precision-guided munitions, increasing their effectiveness in various roles, from air-to-air combat to ground attack missions.
The importance of combat aircraft upgrades cannot be understated, providing regional air forces with tangible operational advantages, and sending a clear signal to potential adversaries about a country’s commitment to defending its interests amid a deteriorating geopolitical landscape.
by JR Ng
