Contracts Inked for F-16 Block-30 ÖZGÜR-II & F-16 Block-40/50 ÖZGÜR-II Projects
The Contract Signing Ceremony for the F-16 Block-30 ÖZGÜR-II and F-16 Block 40/50 ÖZGÜR-II Projects, initiated by the Defense Industry Agency (SSB) to address the modernization requirements of the Turkish Air Force Command, and to be executed by the prime contractor Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ), took place with the participation of Prof. Haluk GÖRGÜN, President of SSB, and various military and defense officials.
The projects initiated by the SSB aim to implement structural enhancements and ÖZGÜR modernization across the entire inventory of F-16 Block-30 aircraft, while also expanding the scope of structural and avionic modernizations to F-16 Block-30/40/50 aircraft. Under the F-16 Block-30 ÖZGÜR-II Project, several key objectives are set to be achieved. These include obtaining External Load Certification for various ammunition types, miniature bombs, and the ASELPOD system. Additionally, the project aims to integrate AESA Nose Radar into ÖZGÜR Aircraft, incorporate T Link, IFF BSC, RNE, and 9681 V/UHF airborne radio equipment, and facilitate the integration of Bozdoğan and HGK-82 munitions into the F-16 Block-30 ÖZGÜR Aircraft, which are to be modernized under FEWS and Gökdoğan Integration Project Contract, with the ultimate goal of achieving serial production of the final product.
The F-16 BLOK-40/50 ÖZGÜR-II Project aims to integrate the ÖZGÜR Suite and AESA radar, along with other critical components such as FEWS, T Link, IFF BSC, RNE, ASELPOD, 9681 V/UHF airborne radio, and national equipment/ammunitions, including SOM, HGK, KGK, LGK, Gökdoğan, and Bozdoğan, into F-16 Block 40/50 prototype aircraft. Structural improvement engineering activities will also be conducted on F-16 Block 40/50 prototype aircraft, with the goal of eventually implementing these improvements across the serial production. The deliveries for the F-16 Block-30 ÖZGÜR-II Project are expected to be completed between 2025 and 2027, while the deliveries for the F-16 BLOCK-40/50 ÖZGÜR-II Project are projected to conclude between 2028 and 2030.
