Orders for the F-16 fighter version Block 70/72 will be completed at the factory in Greenville. Nearly 400 jobs will be created to support this production line, almost double the workforce employed at Lockheed Martin’s plant in Greenville. This will be the only surviving F-16 production line in the world. It was set up three years after Lockheed Martin discontinued the line in Fort Worth, Texas. Recently, representing five partner countries, the US Air Force signed a contract with Lockheed Martin worth $14 billion to build 128 F-16s by 2026. The first F-16s of this line will ship in 2022 and production will increase steadily in the following years. These aircraft will be delivered to Bahrain, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Taiwan territories. The F-16 Block 70/72 will be integrated with active electronically scanned array radar (AESA), advanced medium-range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) with longer strike capability, and a suitable expanded fuel tank. with the fuselage. Even after 2026, the US is expected to receive more orders for the F-16 due to its reasonable price and versatility.

In the current payroll of the Russian Aerospace Forces, there are more than 2000 jet aircraft of all types. However, this force only uses two-engine fighters, does not own any single-engine fighters. One of the main reasons is that most of the fighters in the current Russian Aerospace Forces, most of which are fighters developed from the previous Su-27 series, use two jet engine. However, part of the reason why Russia did not use single-engine fighters in service, came from the lack of it in the final stage when the Soviet Union was about to disintegrate. Specifically with the MiG-29 fighter. This type of fighter, when developed, was aimed at a single-engine fighter design, to compete with the US-made F-16 fighter. However, this design encountered a very difficult obstacle, that is, the Soviet Union at that time did not have a jet engine strong and light enough to be applied to the design of the MiG-29 at that time. . Designer Mikoyan then had to revise the drawings of the MiG-29, forcing it to use two jet engines instead of one as originally envisioned. Basically, at the last stage when the Soviet Union was about to disintegrate, it was very difficult to spend money on research and manufacturing of new generation jet engines. The fighter designers were then forced to use all that was available to them, and the idea of ​​a single-engined Moscow fighter jet ended since. However, it can still be considered that twin-engine fighters have more advantages than single-engine fighters. The US itself at the present time has also stopped producing single-engine fighter aircraft, the F-16 version, although very popular, has only received further upgrades so far, the new production line has been closed. Doors from 2017 to 2019 are allowed to reopen, but only for export. Compared with single-engine fighters, dual-engine combat is considered to be more stable in operation. In the event of one engine failure, at least one remaining engine is enough to bring the plane to a safe landing. Two engines, which means that the aircraft will have two independent power supplies to power the computer system, and also the hydraulic systems on the plane. With single-engine fighters, once the engine stops working, the aircraft will immediately fall into a state of loss of control. Especially with today’s modern aircraft, which use fly-by-wire electronic steering, as soon as the engine is turned off, the computer will also turn off and the steering system will be useless immediately. The American F-16 fighter itself also uses special fuel, along with an electrical energy storage system, allowing the aircraft to operate for an additional 10 minutes after the engine is turned off. At the end of 10 minutes, the energy reserves will run out and the aircraft will also be uncontrollable. In the opposite direction, a single-engine fighter has the advantage of being more compact, lighter, and more fuel-efficient when compared to a twin-engine fighter with the same output thrust. Even the US F-16 fighters, capable of carrying weapons up to 7.7 tons, are only 300 kg inferior to the Russian twin-engine Su-30 aircraft. In the future, Russia is looking to replace its MiG-29 fighters with a single-engine fighter. However, up to now, the design of the new Russian single-engine fighter is likely still on paper. The first thing Moscow needed was a jet engine powerful enough to carry the fighter. Image source: Pinterest. Russia’s MiG-29 fighter is still considered the most “light” fighter that Moscow owns. Source: Mikoyan.

The Eurasian Times has just published a graphic image of a single-engine fighter, believed to be of a future design, built by Russia based on the Su-57 fighter, in order to overcome the biggest weakness of this aircraft. , which is the lack of stealth. Accordingly, Sukhoi Corporation has embarked on the design of a new fighter, based on the original design of the Su-57, but enhancing stealth to a new level. Information from the Eurasian Times also said that it is likely that the next design of this new fighter jet will be equipped with only one engine. So far, the Russian Su-57 fighter has always been praised for its excellent maneuverability and speed, but to achieve speed and maneuverability, the Su-57 at the expense of invisibility. Although Russia has never acknowledged it, many military experts believe that the 3D vector engine design on the Su-57 is the fighter’s fatal weakness in front of enemy radars. Unlike the engine design hidden inside the stealth cover of the aircraft like the US F-22 Raptor, the engine of the Su-57 fighter is almost completely exposed. The radar-absorbing shell of the Su-57 fighter does not cover the aircraft’s engine parts, which means that, even though the entire Su-57 is invisible, its engine will still be targeted by enemy radars. side caught. The difficulty of Russia is that the engine of the Su-57 has too good performance, generates a lot of heat and is a 3D vector engine. All of these factors will make the Su-57’s engine impossible to fit inside the aircraft, nor can it be covered with a radar-absorbing shell on the outer surface. The US itself has admitted to trading the maneuverability, as well as the speed of the F-22 Raptor and F-35 fighters in exchange for superior stealth, but with the Su-57 everything is different. does not appear to be going in this direction. In addition, information about Russia’s next 5th generation fighter model will be equipped with an engine, also making many people curious and excited. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia has not built any single-engine light fighter. Russia’s lightest fighter today, probably the MiG-29 – is also equipped with two engines, and can be considered a medium fighter. The single-engine fighter, in theory, is not much inferior to the twin-engine fighter in terms of weapon carrying capacity and aerial range. Not to mention, single-engine fighters will have lower production costs, shorter assembly times, and lower usage and depreciation costs. Currently, on the world market, the US F-16 single-engine fighter is still “hegemonic” and has almost no rival. Despite having only one engine, the US F-16 fighter is still capable of carrying up to 7.7 tons of weapons – only 300 kg less than the maximum weapon load of the Su-30. This is currently also the backbone of the US, with 1,300 in service, the most numerous fighter in the world at the moment. The test pilot pushed the Su-57 fighter to the limit of its maneuverability with a series of unbelievable flight maneuvers. Source: Sukoi.

Taiwan Air Force F-16. The Taiwanese military has announced plans to sell its old F-16 radars after Taipei’s fighter squadron received new radar systems. Taiwan’s F-16 fighter aircraft is being upgraded with the new AN / APG-83 AESA radar as part of the retrofitting of the F-16 Block 70 version. However, the old APG-66 radars are still serviceable and valuable in the international arms market, Liberty Times reported. A source familiar with the matter has pointed out that APG-66 radars could also be installed on F-16A / B fighter jets, which are still in service with foreign air forces. After Taiwan completes the retrofit of its jets, a batch of more than 100 APG-66 radars will be sold in accordance with US regulations, with profits transferred to Taipei’s treasury. The value of the old radars has yet to be determined, the source said. Taiwan purchased 150 F-16 fighters from the US in 1992 and received them in 1997. According to the Northrup Grumman group, the new AN / APG-83 features high-resolution synthetic aperture radar mapping in all weather conditions to show pilots a large surface image for item identification. target and more accurate attack information.

According to the latest reports, the number of F-35 fighters in service with the US Air Force, now surpassing all other aircraft of this force, rose to second place – after injections. click F-16. Specifically, with a squadron of F-35 fighters up to 283 aircraft, the number of F-35s of the US Air Force has surpassed both the F-15 and F-10 – two types of backbone aircraft of this force. throughout the decades. The single-engine F-16 fighter with the advantage of low maintenance costs and low operating costs is still the most popular fighter in the US Air Force. Specifically, the US Air Force owns 934 F-16 fighters. This number of F-16s will be gradually replaced by F-35 fighter jets in the future. Designed to be a mixed-attack fighter and strike aircraft, the US F-35 is capable of replacing all other fighters currently in service with this force. However, while the F-35 is being finalized and corrected for hundreds of defects, it still cannot become the backbone of the US Air Force at the present time. In fact, the heavy F-15 fighter jets still have a dominant position in the US Air Force’s bombardments if there is a war. The latest version of the F-15 is the F-15EX, which was rushed into service by this force shortly after making its first flight earlier this year. It is expected that until the 40s of this century, the F-15 will still serve in the US Air Force. As for the A-10 fighter jet, this type of aircraft that is nearly half a century old is still considered “without a worthy substitute”. The failure of the US Air Force to develop a serial version of the A-10 is simply because the aircraft is currently too efficient, and effective enough, until the F-35 comes into its own. future. Up to the present time, the US Air Force owns 279 A-10 Warthog attack aircraft in service. However, only about 60% of these are qualified to fight, the rest need constant revolving maintenance. The US Air Force expects the entire A-10 strike group to be phased out gradually from 2032, even sooner if there are serious accidents in the future. By that point, the F-35 would have to be completed to take the place of the A-10. Photo source: BI. The US is producing F-35 fighters at breakneck speed, both for domestic service and for delivery to allied countries as planned. Source: Chosul.

Vietnam used to pay off a large number of MiG-21Bis, this is the last version of the famous light fighter line MiG-21 produced by the Soviet Union. The combat capacity of the MiG-21Bis is comparable to that of the US F-16A / B light fighter. The birth of the MiG-21Bis was conceived by the Soviet Union in the late 1960s. In order to continue to improve the performance of the MiG-21 and Su-15 fighters, in winter 1971, the Soviet government issued a resolution of love. bridge The MKB Soyuz engine design department in Ufa built a new turbojet R-25-300 engine with a takeoff thrust of 7,100 kg, while in low flight with a sound speed of 9,900 kg. On the basis of the new engine, the MiG-21 fighter upgrade project officially began, this version was designated as MiG-21Bis. The production of the MiG-21Bis was deployed in that same year (1971) at the factory in Gorkiy city. In addition to the TRDF turbojet engine for the MiG-21Bis, the fuel system has been perfected, the reserve points found (mainly thanks to the auxiliary oil tank) have allowed for increased capacity. fuel system volume by nearly 239 liters, thus compensating for the long range loss due to increased fuel consumption. Recognizing the efforts of the MKB Soyuz engine manufacturers, they completed the mission. The R25-300 generates thrust in the emergency mode of 7,100 KG, while in accelerated first-grade 6,850 KG. Keeping the same size as the previous engine model, the engine’s dry weight increased slightly and did not exceed 1,215kg. In fact, the thrust capacity of the R25-300 engine has exceeded the initial requirements, thus helping the aircraft to have better maneuverability. Unfortunately, the MiG-21Bis’s fuselage has made full use of the space, including the exhaustion of the internal compartments, otherwise the power of the MiG-21Bis would be much stronger. The radar equipped for the MiG-21Bis, although not large in size, also significantly expanded the aircraft’s ability to capture the target. The aircraft is equipped with the RP-21 tadar; optical viewfinder ASP-PFD-21; The PNK Polyot-OI navigation-pilot combination helped the MiG-21Bis become an extremely powerful opponent in the air at that time. The MiG-21Bis retains the Lazur anti-interference communication channel, which ensures communication with the Vozdukh-1 ground-based automated command system. Pilots are equipped with a KM-1 or KM-1M parachute ejection seat, the PVD-18 air pressure receiver. With this equipment, the pilot can safely escape in case the aircraft is shot on fire. The maneuverability of the aircraft is close to that of the fourth generation fighter F-15, F-16 and Mirage 2000. The radar scattering area (RCS) of this aircraft is close to that of the aircraft. F-16 fighter aircraft. Compared with previous variants of MiG-21, MiG-21Bis fighter has improved wings, aircraft equipment is improved, significantly increasing the list of weapons. The MiG-21Bis’s armament load is about 1.3 tons, allowing up to four K-13M, RS-2US, R-3S, R-3R, R-60 and R- heat-range air-to-air missiles. 60M; or can carry 57 and 240mm rockets or 500kg free-fall bombs. Four mounting brackets can allow carrying “gun pods”, aviation cameras, and electronic radio reconnaissance facilities. In the fuselage is arranged a 23mm GSh-23L aviation gun with 200 rounds of ammunition. In 1972 the aerospace plant in the city of Gorkiy built the first 35 MiG-21bis interceptors, and in that same year the aircraft entered service. From 1972 to 1985, the Soviet Union built 2,013 MiG-21Bis with three main configurations: product “75” for the Air Force of the Soviet Air Defense Army (PVO); “75A” for socialist countries and “75B” for capitalist and developing countries. MiG-21Bis fighter entered Vietnam People’s Air Force in 1979. It could be the MiG-21bBs 75A version for the socialist bloc. Currently, all MiG-21Bis have been disqualified due to their expiry date.

“The test was done with a script dealing with an external air attack. As soon as it detected and locked the target, the fighter launched Bozdogan. The missile hit the target with absolute precision. “The Turkish Air Force said in a statement.

Self-produced rocket launchers F-16 Earth.

The source added that, prior to this exemplary interception, Bozdogan also successfully conducted many other interceptions when launched from fixed platforms on the ground.

These are state tests before they enter service. The results of the Bozdogan development program have made not only the manufacturer, the Air Force but also President Recep Tayyip Erdogan very pleased.

“When officially put into service, Ankara will have a weapon that no other country has. In particular, this missile will replace the US-made AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9X ammunition. served in the Turkish Air Force, “Erdogan said.

According to Drive, not only the US-made AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X are gradually being replaced in Turkey, but the legendary American anti-ship missile Harpoon also suffers the same fate in the Turkish Navy.

Specifically, on the new generation of Turkish Milgem-class warships, Harpoon is replaced by the Atmaca (Hawk) missile line researched and developed by Turkish defense contractor Roketsan.

It is known that Atmaca is the first anti-ship missile produced by Turkey. It can glide through ships before hitting and destroying any warship it targets.

At first glance, the Atmaca missile looks quite similar to Russia’s Harpoon or Kh-35 anti-ship missiles. Like other rockets, Atmaca is launched from a launcher using a rocket engine, helping to propel the missile to move at high speed.

After finishing the propulsion process, the jet engine will be activated and help the missile fly to the target position. Thanks to the integration of an altimeter radar, the missile can fly just above the waves easily to avoid being shot down when attacking enemies. Roketsan officially developed the Atmaca missile since 2009.

The missile can operate in all weather conditions, highly effective against moving and fixed targets at sea. The maximum range of the Atmaca is believed to be about 250km – this range is much further than the AGM-84 Harpoon.

“A powerful Turkey needs to have state-of-the-art weapons of its own in order not to be dependent on external supply, even though those countries are known as close allies.

In some areas that are not yet our strengths, such as defensive weapons and fighters, Ankara will seek partners that are more reliable and not affected by political factors, “said a member of the company. Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) said.

From the statement of the AKP representative showed that this is the reason why Turkey decided to carry out the deal of Russia’s S-400 interceptor system despite the US and some NATO members threatening sanctions. .

In addition, the Turkish Air Force is currently negotiating with the Russian side on the fighter deal. It is not clear that this NATO member is looking to buy Russian Su-35 fighter or Su-57 stealth fighter.