After being hit by the issue of a 'many volumes' embargo by the United States Parliament, finally good news greeted the Ottoman Country, namely that the Turkish Air Force had finally received the first unit of the F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet which had received a local upgrade containing important components which were also supplied by domestic companies.
The news that the Turkish Air Force has been waiting for follows the United States' decision to approve the first modernization package (Link-16 TDL) for Turkish F-16s earlier this year. To be precise, the US Department of State has approved the sale of some of the modernization equipment that has been requested by Turkey.
The first agreement referred to is for the sale of the Link-16 Tactical Data Link (TDL) system modernization kit, also known as the “multiple information distribution system” to Turkey to modernize the communications capabilities of existing F-16 fighter jets.
Quoted from thedefensepost.com (22/5/2023), a golden opportunity for the blessing of the US immediately received a quick response, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) became the company that handled the upgrade of Turkey's F-16 fleet under the Ozgur project.
The Turkish Air Force will upgrade 30-35 F-16 Block 30 units under the first phase of the project, followed by F-16 Block 40 and 50 in the next phase. As the backbone of air power, the Turkish Air Force currently operates 43 F-16 C/D Block 30 units, 117 Block 40 units, and 110 Block 50 units. With the large population of F-16s, the Turkish Air Force is currently very dependent on the US.
“We delivered our first F-16, and from now on, our F-16s will continue to serve our air force with much more advanced capabilities. May this be a gift to Turkey's century," said Turkey's Defense Industry President, İsmail Demir.
The F-16 upgrade on the Ozgur project includes updates to the electro-optical and avionics systems, the national mission computer, and operational flight software. Additional updates also include identification Friend or Foe systems, inertial navigation systems, interface blinding units, helmet integrated aiming systems, center cockpit indicators and color multifunction displays – most of which will be supplied by the domestic industry.
An active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar from Aselsan will also be installed on the F-16s, along with several domestically developed missiles, such as the Gokdogan and Bozdogan air-to-air missiles, Gezgin and Cakir cruise missiles, and the Atmaca anti-ship missile. .
The F-16 upgrade in the Ozgur project is expected to increase the aircraft's flight hours from 8,000 to 12,000 hours. Even though it has received approval to carry out the upgrade on the F-16, Turkey has so far not received approval to buy the F-16 Viper (new production).
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US President Joe Biden had previously sent a letter to Congress in April 2022, explaining that the sale of a US$20 billion package to Turkey was in line with NATO and US national interests. The US$20 billion package for Turkey includes the procurement of 40 new F-16 Viper fighter jets and 79 upgrade kits to upgrade its aging F-16 fleet.
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