The Air Force has awarded Raytheon a contract to upgrade F-16 mission computer systems, according to a company press release. The Modular Mission Computer Upgrade will allow F-16s to operate almost like a fifth-generation aircraft in some areas, such as data processing speed and memory capacity. The new F-16 system can also be further expanded to include fifth-generation sensors and weapons systems. “The new mission computer is a game changer for the F-16,” said Josh Cobbs, program manager at Raytheon, in the release. “The brain of the F-16, this mission computer, can process more information faster, allowing the pilot to put weapons on targets with greater reliability.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth vowed to undertake far-reaching reforms on the way the U.S. military buys weapons, promising a sweeping overhaul of the way the Defense Department determines requirements, handles the acquisition process, and tests its kit. The fundamental goal, which Hegseth underscored in a 1-hour and 10-minute speech…


