Lockheed Martin on Nov. 22 received three contracts worth almost $60 million for upgrades and modifications to Moroccan, Taiwanese, and Singaporean F-16s. The company received a $16.3 million modification to a previously awarded contract to upgrade F-16s for Morocco, with work expected to last until June 2019, according to a Pentagon announcement. Lockheed also received a $12.3 million modification to a previously awarded contract to provide equipment to sustain 144 Taiwanese F-16s, along with familiarization training on ground software for maintenance. The contract lasts until May 2022, according to the announcement. The third contract is for a $27 million modification to upgrade F-16s for Singapore, with work expect to last until June 2023.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.