General Dynamics F-16A/B Block 50/52 Fighting Falcon
The current production version of the Fighting Falcon is Block 50/52. It was produced in parallel with the Block 40/42, beginning in 1991.
The Block 42 F-16C/D weighed over 3000 pounds more than the earlier F-16A/B, but had approximately the same engine thrust. In addition, the Block 40/42 was expected to carry much heavier and bulkier loads, which called for much more engine power, especially at low altitudes. More engine power was clearly required.
In support of this requirement, the USAF launched a project known as Increased Performance Engine (IPE) to develop more powerful versions of both the F100 and F110. The results were the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 and the General Electric the F110-GE-129, both of which offered significantly more takeoff thrust and better performance at high speeds at low level.
The F100-PW-229 combines the core of the -220 with a new low-pressure section and an improved augmenter, giving about 22 percent more thrust. This improved performance brings the F100 nearly up to the performance level of the F110. The F100-PW-229 is lighter and more powerful than earlier F100s, and had been flying at Edwards AFB since mid-1990 in test ship 81-0816.
The F110-GE-129 introduced internal changes to make it possible for the engine to run hotter. The -129 engine offers about a ten-percent increase in high-altitude thrust and about a 30 percent increase in high-speed, low-level thrust.
Block 50/52 F-16s are powered by the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 and the General Electric F110-GE-129 respectively.
The first Block 50 F-16 (90-0801) flew for the first time on October 22, 1991, with company test pilot Keith Giles at the controls. The first Block 50 F-16D (90-0834) took off on its first flight on April 1, 1992, with Steve Barter and Bland Smith on board. The first Block 50 F-16 was delivered to the USAF in November of 1993, with the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB, Utah being the first recpient.
The first Block 52 F-16C (90-0809) was made on October 22, 1992, with Steve Barter, and the first Block 52 F-16D (90-0893) flew for the first time on November 24, 1992, with Joe Sweeney and Steve Barter at the controls. The 23rd FS based at Spangdahlem in Germany was the first USAFE unit to receive the Block 50, which arrived in 1993.
The Block 50/52 carries the Northrop Grumman APG-68(V5) radar, which has a high-speed integrated circuit signal processor which makes the unit twice as fast as the radar of the Block 40/42. In additional, the radar is considerably more reliable than the earlier unit. The signal processor improves the radar's reliability and performance in electronic countermeasures.
The Block 50/52 is capable of carrying the Raytheon AGM-88B HARM antiradiation missile. In order to make this missile compatible with the F-16, a HARM Avionics Launcher Interface Computer is fitted. This computer is used to pre-program the HARM missile with the bearing and range of the target before launch, so that the HARM will be able to reach the vicinity of the target The Block 50/52 also introduced the Texas Instruments AN/ASQ-213 HARM Targeting System pod which eanbles the F-16 to locate and identify enemy emitters, which makes it possible for the aircraft to operate as an independent Wild Weasel SEAD aircraft. Although the Block 30 F-16C could carry the HARM as well, these aircraft lacked the electronics and the load carring ability to fully exploit the weapon. With the advent of the ASQ-213 HARM targeting system, the Block 50 can act as a truly effective SEAD aircraft, filling the gap left by the retirement of the F-4G. The USAF has unofficially adopted the designation F-16CJ for the HARM-capable Block 50/52 F-16C.
The Block 50/52 was also capable of carrying the new Northrop AGM-137 Tri-Service Stand-Off Attack Missile (TSSAM) stand-off attack missile, but this was cancelled in December of 1994.
The Block 50/52 carries the Lockheed Martin (formerly Loral) AN/ALR-56M radar warning receiver which replaces the ALR-69 on earlier F-16 versions. The presence of this unit can be identified by the presence of can-like antennae on the wing leading edge. The AN/ALR-56M has been retrofitted into all USAF F-16C/Ds. The block 50/52 also carries the improved AN/ALE-47 Group A chaff/flare dispenser system. However, the Block 50/52 F-16s are not LANTIRN-capable, and they have the old-style Block 30 heads-up display.
On December 9, 1992, it was announced that Lockheed had bought out the Fort Worth Division of General Dynamics for 1.525 billion dollars in cash. The plant would henceforth be known as the Lockheed Fort Worth Company. This marked the end of production of complete aircraft by General Dynamics, the remaining elements of the company now being involved only in the manufacture of submarines, the M1A1 tank, airliner components, missiles, space systems, and electronics. The manufacture of the F-16 would, however, still continue at Fort Worth, with the aircraft now being known as the Lockheed F-16.