Lockheed Martin [LMT] unveiled a new variant of the F-16 recently at the Singapore Airshow, according to a company statement.
The new variant, the F-16V, will feature enhancements including an active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar, an upgraded mission computer and architecture and improvements to the cockpit, according to a statement.
“We believe the F-16V will satisfy our customers’ emerging requirements and prepare them to better interoperate with the 5th generation fighters, the F-35 and F-22,” Lockheed Martin Aeronautics’ Vice President of Business Development George Standridge said in a statement.
According to the statement, AESA radars offer significant operational capability improvements. Lockheed Martin has developed an innovative solution to affordably retrofit this technology into existing F-16s. The F-16V configuration is an option for new production jets and elements of the upgrade are available to most earlier-model F-16s.