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Uncertainty surrounds Thailands F-16 upgrade plan By Siva Govindasamy
Thailand
is completing a structural upgrade programme for its Lockheed Martin
F-16A/B fighters, but there is still no indication on when a planned
mid-life upgrade programme will begin.
A Falcon Up modernisation
programme for 57 aircraft was completed in February, and the first to
go through the separate Falcon Star upgrade effort was delivered in
2008. Officials from Thai Aviation Industries, which is responsible for
the upgrades, say it is still not clear when the latter project will be
completed.
A mid-life upgrade has also been mooted previously,
and Lockheed officials have been involved in discussions with the Thai
government. But budget constraints and a lack of clarity on what
exactly the customer wants to do mean that this will not be decided in
the near term, say industry sources.
"The priority for the Thai
government is the purchase of the [Saab] Gripens, and a follow-on order
for the fighter," says one source. "They have been happy to do the
structural upgrades on the F-16s, but there really isnt any money for
a mid-life upgrade in the defence budget. Funds are tight for defence
projects in this financial crisis, with the government concentrating on
welfare programmes and pump-priming the economy."
Another source says the delay stems from uncertainty over what would be included as part of the next modernisation effort.
"There
are many variations to the mid-life upgrade, and several options that
are available," the source said during the Defence & Security Asia
2009 exhibition in Bangkok. "The avionics is normally a priority. The
radar can be changed, while the aircraft could also be re-engined.
These are things that the Thais have asked about several times, and
Lockheed and other suppliers have responded."
However, the
source adds: "It is not clear what exactly they want to do. Until there
is clarity on that - and I think we are a long way off from reaching
that stage - a mid-life upgrade is just not going to happen."
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... -plan.html