IAF eyes major overhaul of F-16s, used to strike Iran, to meet future combat needs
The decades-old F-16 “Barak” aircraft managed to strike in Iran without refueling, and added significant capacity to the Israel Air Force’s strike capability.
The Israel Air Force (IAF) is examining investing billions of shekels to upgrade its F-16 aircraft “Barak,” The Jerusalem Post’s sister outlet, Walla, learned on Sunday.
“Barak” is the Hebrew translation of the word “lightning.”
Despite being several decades old, the aircraft managed to take part in IAF strikes against Iran during June’s Operation Rising Lion.
The IAF had three squadrons of F-16 C and D models, in addition to about 100 newer F-16I Sufa aircraft, which are equipped with conformal fuel tanks attached to their main body that significantly extend their flight range.
The older F-16s managed to reach Iran without refueling, thereby freeing the IAF’s tanker fleet to service other combat aircraft, Army Radio reported. The aircraft were intended to be used for attacks in closer theaters such as Lebanon and Gaza in the event of a war with Iran, but a modification made to them at the Ramat David Air Base, where they are stationed, allowed for the range extension.
In the past, the IAF extended the range of the first F-16s it received in 1981 by switching to larger external drop tanks than the originals, which allowed them to attack and destroy the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq in 1981, and it is possible that a similar modification was made in this case as well.
Over the years, the aircraft underwent upgrades intended to allow them to continue to employ advanced munitions, such as the Barak 2020 project, but they are approaching the end of the flight hours that were originally set for them by the manufacturer – Lockheed Martin.
The IAF seeks not to further reduce the size of its combat aircraft fleet, but it is financially constrained from purchasing additional combat aircraft beyond what is already planned, Walla learned.
Some operators of similar F-16s have already embarked on upgrade projects with Lockheed for the same reason.
Poland, for example, signed for an upgrade program with the manufacturer worth $3.8 billion for 48 aircraft, to the F-16V “Viper” standard, which includes an advanced radar and new electronic warfare and communications systems, alongside replacement of fatigued structural parts with new ones to add roughly 3,000 flight hours to their operational life.
Such an upgrade could also include the addition of the ability to carry conformal fuel tanks, which these aircraft did not originally have.
Poland, which is threatened by neighboring Russia, is also trying to preserve its fleet while it acquires new F-35 aircraft, and the upgrade is intended to facilitate joint operations between the two platforms.
Thanks to its low-observable radar signature, the F-35 can penetrate enemy airspace first without being detected while its sensors locate targets and pass the information to the older aircraft.
The IAF is now examining the scope of the upgrade for Israeli aircraft, according to operational needs and the budget that will be raised for the project. As in Poland, where Lockheed performs the upgrade through a local plant, the intention in Israel is that Israel Aerospace Industries will carry out the project and install upgrade kits that will arrive from Lockheed.
The air force is what makes Israel a regional superpower.
F-16’s are the best multirole aircraft ever made. It’s astonishing they can reach Iran without refueling. Absolutely worth upgrading them and where appropriate replacing airframes.
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