Lockheed Martin unveiled its F-21, a variant of the F-16 Block 70 specially configured to meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) MRFA program, which seeks to acquire 114 multi-role fighters.
During the Aero India 2023 international aerospace show, Lockheed Martin’s local subsidiary released a video showing, in considerable detail, the offered configuration of the F-21, which is seeking to win the lucrative contract for 114 new multi-role fighters for the IAF.
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Specifically configured for @IAF_MCC, the #F21 addresses the country's unique requirements and puts 🇮🇳 at the epicenter of the world’s largest and most advanced fighter aircraft ecosystem.#AeroIndia2023 #ForIndiaFromIndia pic.twitter.com/dzhYmc4BMq
— Lockheed Martin India (@LMIndiaNews) February 16, 2023
The F-21 offers the following capabilities:
- An advanced APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which has detection ranges nearly double that of previous mechanically scanned array radars and the ability to track and attack more targets with higher precision.
- Cockpit upgrades, including a new Large Area Display (LAD) which enhances pilot situational awareness.
- An Advanced Electronic Warfare (EW) System, developed uniquely for India, that provides enhanced survivability against ground and air threats.
- Long-Range Infrared Search & Track (IRST), enabling pilots to passively detect threats.
- Triple Missile Launcher Adapters (TMLAs) allowing the F-21 to carry 40% more air-to-air weapons than previous F-16 designs.
- A Dorsal Fairing enabling increased growth capacity and indigenous systems integration in the future.
The F-21 is also the only fighter in the world capable of both probe/drogue (the most widely used in the world) and boom (USAF standard) aerial fuelling capability. This, along with the conformal fuel tanks (CFT), provides the Indian Air Force with greater penetration and stationary flight dwell capability.
As reported by Lockheed Martin, the F-21 is an advanced, single-engine, multi-role fighter with the most optimal life-cycle cost for the IAF and the longest service life among all competitors: 12,000 flight hours.
Make in India
The F-21 also responds to the requirement of the “Make in India” program (driven by the government in New Delhi to develop and manufacture defense systems in the country and reduce external dependence) by partnering with local company Tata to create TLMAL – Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited – a joint venture that currently manufactures components for the F-16 supply chain, and would be responsible for manufacturing the aircraft in India, should it win the MRFA competition.
In addition to local manufacturing of the F-21, TLMAL would significantly increase its share of the global F-16 fighter maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) market, along with that of other Lockheed Martin products to which it would also have access.
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