The Air Force has budgeted $25 million to begin development of new radars for its F-16 fleet, a need especially felt by the commander ofthe service's homeland defense missionhas said is urgent.
Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke, director of the Air National Guard, said the upgrade is are needed for surveillance and the ability to detect targets.
"It's a deficit and we need to address this," Clarke told the House Appropriations defense subcommittee Tuesday.
The service earlier this month filed a "sources sought" notice to contractors for information on the development of an active electronically scanned array radar for the itsF-16fleet.
Air ForceChief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh told lawmakers on Tuesday that the service has budgeted money to begin development, and would like to spend about $75 million "if we can find the funding'' to build the radars for the
itsentire F-16 fleet.
"We need to develop an AESA radar plan for our F-16s who are conducting the homeland defense mission in particular," Welsh told the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. "Our entire fleet – active, Guard and Reserve – none of them have been upgraded with that radar."
The service estimates it would spend $3.2 million per aircraft to install an integrated AESA radar.
"We think that's the way to go," Welsh said. "We're looking now at how we can do that as we move forward."
The Air Force originally sought the upgrade was part of an Air Force plan to upgrade its F-16s it originally sought in the fiscal 2013 budget request, but it was cut as part of cost reductions imposed in the Budget Control Act.
Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke, director of the Air National Guard, said the upgrade is are needed for surveillance and the ability to detect targets.
"It's a deficit and we need to address this," Clarke told the House Appropriations defense subcommittee Tuesday.
First Air Force, the numbered Air Force responsible for the homeland protection mission, earlier this month filed an "Urgent Operational Need" request for radar upgrades to its F-16 fleet.
These requests are used to identify needs "during a current conflict or crisis situation that if not satisfied in an expedited manner, will result in unacceptable loss of life or critical mission failure," the Air Force said in a statement.
