Lockheed Martin wins $1.2 billion contract to upgrade South Korea’s F-16s

The U.S. Air Force recently awarded Lockheed Martin a $1.2 billion contract to upgrade 134 of the Republic of Korea Air Force’s (ROKAF) F-16 aircraft based on the advanced F-16V configuration.
 
The foreign military sales contract was issued to Lockheed Martin in part due to its design authority and original equipment manufacturer on the F-16 and its unique qualifications in terms of designing, engineering, developing, integrating and sustaining an F-16 system tailored for the ROKAF’s requirements.
 
The contract will see Lockheed Martin enhance the ROKAF’s F-16s through measures like an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and a modern commercial off-the-shelf (COTS)-based avionics subsystem. The contract will also see Lockheed Martin improve upon the center pedestal display, providing a large-format, high-resolution display, and installing a high-volume and high-speed data bus.
 
"We truly appreciate the trust and confidence the Republic of Korea has placed in us with this contract," Lockheed Martin F-16 Program Vice President Susan Ouzts said. "These upgrades are a critical piece of South Korea's national defense and highlight Lockheed Martin's commitment to the full lifecycle of the F-16, from production to through-life sustainment."
 
The F-16 is currently part of the fighter fleet of 25 nations throughout the world, with more than 4,570 delivered.