Turkey-made AESA Radar For F-16 Jets to be Ready by End-2022

The Turkish F-16 jet's AESA radar prototype, developed by electronics enterprise, ASELSAN is scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year.

The AESA Radar will be integrated into the F-16 Block 30 platform in service with the Turkish Air Force for further tests and qualification.

According to the information obtained by SavunmaSanayiST.com, the ASELSAN-produced F-16 Multifunctional AESA Nose Radar System will be integrated into the F-16 Block 30 platforms which are currently undergoing structural modernization by Turkish aerospace firm, TUSAS.

After Turkey's spat with the US that led to its removal from the F-35 program, Ankara decided to upgrade its F-16s on its own. The F-16s are currently Turkey's top-of-the-line aircraft.

The structural modernization wil increase the flight life of the F-16 Block 30s from 8,000 hours to 12,000 hours. Besides the structural upgrade, the F-16 Block 30s will also undergo avionics modernization.

The functions and capabilities of the ASELSAN-made F-16 AESA Radar are as follows:

• Simultaneous Air-Air and Air-Ground Missions
• Non-Collaborative Target Identification
• Automatic Target Recognition
• Electronic Attack

In addition to the AESA radar for F-16s, ASELSAN is currently developing radars with AESA technology for Akinci attack drone and National Combat Aircraft (MMU).