The State Department approved a possible $130 million Foreign Military Sales (FMS) request to Singapore for the F-16 Block 52 upgrade program for 60 aircraft and associated equipment, parts and logistical support.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the potential sale on May 5.

The primary contractors would include Lockheed Martin [LMT], BAE Systems, Boeing [BA], ITT Corp. [ITT], L3 Communications [LLL], Northrop Grumman [NOC], and Raytheon [RTN].

The Air Force's F-16D fighter jet. Photo: Lockheed Martin.
The Air Force’s F-16D fighter jet. Photo: Lockheed Martin.

The requested FMS would include 60 F-16C/D/D+ aircraft. The upgrades will address reliability, supportability, and combat effectiveness concerns associated with its aging F-16 fleet. This proposed sale contains additional requirements not previously identified in a previous congressional notification. Items included in the proposed sale are 50 Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing Systems, 90 AN/APX-126 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe Interrogator/Transponders, 150 LAU-129 Missile Launchers, eight KMU-572/B 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Tail Kits, nine KMU-556/B 2,000-pound JDAM Tail Kits, two FMU-152 Munition Fuze Units, 10 MK-82 500-pound inert bombs, three MK-84 2,000-pound inert bombs, 12 LN-260 Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems (GPS/INS), 20 GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB), 92 Link-16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System/ Low Volume Terminals (MIDS/LVT), two SDB Guided Test Vehicles, Computer Control Group and Tail Assembly for GBU-49, DSU-38/40 Proximity Sensor for JDAM, GBU-39 Tactical training Round, ADU-890/E and 891 Adaptor Group for Common Munitions Built-In-Test/Reprogramming Equipment, Encryption/Decryption devise, and MIDS/LVT Ground Support Station.

The sale would also include spare and repair parts, repair and return, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, tool and test equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of program and logistics support.

This sale would improve the capabilities and reliability of the Singapore’s Air Force’s aging fleet of F-16s, DSCA said. “The improved capability, survivability, and reliability of the newly upgraded F-16s will enhance the [its] ability to defend its borders and contribute to coalition operations.”

Implementation of the FMS would not require additional U.S. government or contractor personnel to be assigned to Singapore.