A prototype of active electronically scanned array radars for Turkey’s F-16s, developed by Aselsan with national resources, is scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year and will be integrated into the F-16 Block 30 combat aircraft.
Currently Turkey has 245 units of F-16 C/D fighters in its service.
The development of AESA’s radar for 4th generation F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter as well as for the AKINCI UAV has been ongoing for some time. Information provided by Turkish defense portal SavunmaSanayiST.com states that the AESA national F-16 radar will be delivered by the end of this year.
With this the flight life of the F-16 Block 30s will increase from 8,000 hours to 12,000 hours. The F-16 Block 30s will also undergo avionics upgrades.
Turkish AESA radar
The new AESA radar will be able to search at long distances, which have not been specified, be able to track and intercept targets; the number of targets it can track and intercept have not been disclosed.
The Turkish AESA radar will show weather conditions, detect a target, and assist the pilot during air combat.
The Turkish AESA F-16 radar will measure the distance from the ground to the manned fighter jet, or to the target, thus possibly assisting Turkey’s ground forces or air defenses.
It will also be able to detect and track moving ground targets, determine altitude, be equipped with an integrated SAR band, navigation system, land map and will be able to search the sea.
According to sources, the radar will be able to participate in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, making it multifunctional.
Aselsan’s radars right now
Turkey has claimed that the AESA radar for combat aircraft will be delivered by the end of 2022, and for other aircraft of the Turkish Air Force by the end of 2026.
Developed for MMU, the AESA radar will be located in a highly developed structure called the National Integrated Radio Frequency System for Combat Aircraft.
