Problem of "Old" 24 F16 Jetfighter

Problem of "Old" 24 F16 Jetfighter

by David Raja Marpaung

A total of 8 of 24 F-16 C (single seater) block grant U.S. 25 will arrive in Indonesia in 2014. Aircraft is being upgraded at the depot aircraft maintenance Air Force, 309th Maintenance Wing at Hill Airforce Base, Utah . The government chose 24 F-16 former Air National Guard instead of buying 6 new aircraft, with an excuse to cover a minimum number of aircraft required. 16 aircraft that would fill a squadron (16 aircraft) F-16 in Pekanbaru and 8 in Madiun with the rest of the F-16 A / B block 15 OCU Air Force.

Former aircraft-life can be extended through an upgrade program (capacity building). Program upgrades include enhanced capabilities including avionics, engines, airframes, and weaponry. So sophisticated combat aircraft could follow the latest technological developments. It's cheap for the quality of fighter that minimally or former fighter with the technology fee that is expired, can be tricked with a lot of quantity. The problem is that a lot quantity is not a guarantee of victory in battle

There are several Problem with Procurement of 24 Old F16 Jet Fighter

1. Structure Problem

F-16 is one of the advanced aircraft makes pilots easy to make mistakes. Some form of error resulted in reduced aircraft age. F-16 is planned to operate for 30 years, to 8000 flight hours, with an average of 250 flight hours per year.

In fact a lot of F-16 shows the structure of the problems began 3500 flight hours. For the U.S. did upgrade program structure to ensure that the F-16 can operate according to plan, that is 8000 hours. These programs include Falcon Star, which began in 2004 until 2014, fixing more than 2,000 F-16, including the 1200 F-16 and USAF OUTDATED

2. Lifetime

With an average of 250 aircraft operations OUTDATED hours per year, it is estimated that the aircraft had been in operation for 6750 hours. The rest of the operational lifetime of 1250 hours, equivalent to a 5-year alias, meaning 2017 should already be in the parking aircraft, or as custom Air Force, the pilots, the best sons of the nation, forced risking lives with aircraft that are not worth taking.

The U.S. has a program to improve the life of the F-16. There is no indication on the purchase list above that the F-16 will be in ikutsertakan OUTDATED at age extension program.

3.  Typical of Upgrade Program

There are 3 programsof  upgraded F-16s :

     MLU (RTAF done as an upgrade to the F-16 Block 15 OCU)

     SCU (System Capabilities Upgrade)

     CUPID (Combat Upgrade Plan Integration Details)

MLU upgrade program is much more comprehensive, and more expensive. It seems that the above-mentioned configuration is far from MLU. For example, MLU definitely use integrated modular computer system: Modular Mission Computer, with EUPDG, HSD and HUD display color width. With option called EEFCC or CFCC, do not mean MLU upgrade program. SCU program is too simple, just add some combat systems.   Its is become a very big problem to Indonesian Pilot, if USAF just made SCU Program to 24 F16 Fighter.

Indonesia Buy " Garbage" 24 F16

Indonesia Buy " Garbage" Of 24 F16 Jetfighter

By David Raja Marpaung

November 11, 2011,  America issued a Press Release on "grants" 24 units of F-16 Block 25 to Indonesia. In addition, Indonesia will receive an additional 4 units of F-16 Block 25 and two F-16 Block 15 to be used as spare parts. But only 24 units of the F-16 Block 25's are going to be in the upgrade to the Block 32 standard. Later in the upgrade process, Indonesia will bear the cost of approximately $ 750 million.

Indonesian original intention was to buy 6 units of F-16 block 52 new F-16 aircraft both sophisticated, the same as yours Singapore. Whether because Indonesia is only pity to buy a little, or because they do not want Indonesia to have sophisticated fighter Singapore ally, the U.S. made a counter-offer: Indonesia provided FREE, 24 F-16 block 25, \Then Indonesia ONLY NEED to pay the cost of upgrading the aircraft to F-16 block 32.

The procurement of 24 F-16 is interesting, because it began to change the direction of the purchase of defense equipment in Indonesia. Indonesia, which had left the U.S. for the purchase of defense equipment to embargoed trauma, started to depend to U.S. again. 

Is it profitable?. Depending on which country is regarded as a potential threat by Indonesia. If Singapore and Malaysia and Australia, it may not be a lot of benefits even to say negative.

With an area which is 'only' area of Jakarta  city, Singapore has recorded advanced class aircraft F-15 SG is already using the latest AESA radar. The number of aircraft the F-15 SG they are as many as 24 aircraft. This aircraft can be one of the best fighters in the world today and Act as Singapore First Class Fighter.
Singapore air force also have   about 60 F-16 C / D Block 52 Fighter Jet as Second Class in the Singapore air force.

Today, there are 18 Sukhoi-30MKM aircraft in the Malaysian air force. Su-30MKM aircraft can be said to be twins but not identical Sukhoi-30MKI from those in India. Sukhoi-30MKM can be said is one of the best at this time. The aircraft is certainly better than most Indonesian Sukhoi aircraft, like the Su-27 and Su-30MK SK. In addition, the Malaysian air force is still in the crutch by the presence of 8 aircraft F-18 Hornet and 14 Mig-29 aircraft. This power is also still in the crutch by the presence of about 16 F-5 E / F and 13 Hwak-208 as a Third Class Fighter in Malaysia.

For Australia as a "Big" ally of the U.S.,  they will have a big laugh. Australia will be easy to map the weaknesses of the F-16 Indonesia with data from the U.S.. Worse yet Australia is ordering 72 fighter jet F-35 Lightning II. It may be that the F-16 it will not be considered a threat to Australia, because it is a matter on paper, can be neutralized.