The acquisition of eight new production F-16 Block 70 aircraft for the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) is a major boost to its airpower. Jordan officially signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the F-16 Block 70 aircraft in June.
“This F-16 acquisition reflects over 70 years of U.S. cooperation and decades of partnership with Lockheed Martin,” said Aimee Burnett, vice president, Integrated Fighter Group Business Development. “Our history partnering with Jordan strengthens regional security and helps protect citizens through 21st Century Security technologies that support critical missions today and into the future.”
The U.S. State Department had approved the foreign military sale of the F-16 C/D Block 70 Aircraft to Jordan in February. The RJAF aircraft will be powered by F100-GE-129D engines or F100-PW229EEP engines and also receive Northrop Grumman’s AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned array (AESA) scalable agile beam radars (SABR). This upgrade will keep the multirole F-16 fighter relevant and capable for decades to come.
The new AESA radars will allow RJAF pilots to detect, target, identify, and engage across a spectrum of threats at longer ranges and react with greater precision. The greater bandwidth, speed, and agility of Northrop Grumman’s APG-83 SABR enables the F-16 to detect, track and identify greater numbers of targets faster and at longer ranges. In addition, the radar can operate in hostile electronic environments and features all-weather, high-resolution synthetic aperture radar mapping, which presents the pilot with a large surface image enabling precision target identification and strike.
The APG-83 AESA provides substantial capability enhancements over legacy mechanically scanned APG-66 & APG-68 radars. According to Northrop Grumman, the new AESA radar offers 3-5X greater reliability and availability. The AN/APG-83’s design incorporates proven hardware and advanced operating modes from Northrop Grumman’s fifth-generation F-35 and F-22 AESA radars. The U.S. Air Force selected the APG-83 SABR as the AESA for its F-16 radar upgrade in June 2017.
Other equipment approved for sale by the U.S. Government to Jordan are the AN/AAQ-33 Sniper advanced targeting pods (ATP), Link 16 Low-Volume Terminals (for aircraft and ground stations), KMU-556 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail kits for 2,000LB GBU-31, KMU-572 JDAM tail kits for 500LB Laser JDAM GBU-54, Paveway II (PWII) GBU-10s, Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System II (JHMCS II) or Scorpion Hybrid Optical-based Inertial Tracker (HObIT) helmet mounted displays; AN/ALQ-254 Viper Shield or equivalent Integrated Electronic Warfare (EW) systems, etc.
The proposed sale will improve Jordan’s capability to meet current and future threats by ensuring continued interoperability with U.S. and coalition forces. These aircraft will modernize the Jordanian fighter aircraft fleet and support operational requirements associated with regional U.S.-coalition goals, such as countering violent extremist organizations, countering malign state and non-state actors, and border defense. Jordan will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.
Malaysian defense company, Deftech, displayed a range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) intheir booth during the DSA 2022 expo. The…
Airbus has performed a first A380 flight powered by 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus’ A380 test aircraft MSN 1…
Cargojet has entered into a five-year strategic agreement with DHL, with a renewal option for an additional two years, to…
The Icelandic airline Eagle Air and the German aircraft manufacturer Deutsche Aircraft have announced a renewal of their support contract…
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UPNM Malaysia for collaboration and training of faculty…
Meopta is displaying a wide range of military-grade optical gun sights, scopes, and night vision equipment at the Defense Services…
After signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malaysia’s G7 Aerospace at DSA 2022 event on Monday (Mar. 28), Infoglobal…
Insight Atlantic, a Malaysian defense equipment supplier, is displaying a range of made-in Germany, Lowa tactical footwear in its booth…
PAL Aerospace and Thales have signed an agreement to jointly develop the next generation of mission system during the DSA…
Airod Techno Power (ATP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Honeywell International to provide Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO)…
Advanced Defence Systems (ADS) has signed an MoU with Nexter on the third day of the DSA 2022 event, Wednesday…
In a public announcement released by the Malaysian Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) on Wednesday (Mar. 30), there have been 54…
Sikorsky and Boeing on Thursday announced six new members, including Magnaghi Aeronautica and Collins Aerospace, of Team DEFIANT. The suppliers…
MA Group will provide the fully integrated landing gear system for the DEFIANT X helicopter, consisting of the nose and…
After spending about US$7.4 million on the project, the Australian government has cancelled its Project Air 7003, a program that…
AerCap has signed lease agreements for ten new Airbus A320neo aircraft and two new Airbus A330neo aircraft with ITA Airways.…
A routine service test for an Emirates Airbus A380 aircraft on April 1 has ended with a surprising result. …
Malaysia-based DefTech and Iveco Defence Vehicles are joining hands to establish an authorised MRO centre for Iveco Defence Vehicles trucks…
General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has begun the first installation of factory upgrades to a Gray Eagle-Extended Range (GE-ER) Unmanned…
FL Technics has launched a dedicated business line for wheels and brakes maintenance and opened a specialized shop at the…
ScioTeq has launched RDU-4208 LAD, its new full redundant Large Area Display (LAD) that can be deployed in new cockpits…
Etihad Airways, on March 31st., 2022, unveiled its new Airbus A350-1000, registration A6-XWB, on a special inaugural commercial flight from…
RGA-Black Stone Airlines, a newcomer in the Indonesian aviation business, officially started its business in the country after having its…
SIA Engineering Company Limited (SIAEC) announced that it has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Impeccable Vintage Properties…
Honeywell has signed separate MOUs with Malaysian firms Airod Techno Power (ATP) and Galaxy Aerospace that will further strengthen the…
AirAsia has announced that it will resume international flights from India to Malaysia and Thailand. Flights are now available from…
Embraer and the Brazilian Army have inked a contract to develop and implement Phase Two of the Army's Strategic Program…
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) officially inducted two Turkish-made T129B ATAK attack helicopters and an Airbus Defense and Space C-295…
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has been selected to support the Japan Coast Guard's (JCG) RPAS Project. Operations will…
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) S26T submarine acquisition project from China is at risk of cancellation due to Germany’s refusal…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2023. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2024 GBP all rights reserved.