TAI Delivered 6th F-16 Block-30 Fighter Aircraft to Turkish Armed Forces

Turkish Aerospace Industries has delivered the 16th aircraft upgraded as part of the F-6 Structural Improvement Project to the Air Force Command.

Since the F-16 fighter aircraft in the Air Force Command's inventory are or are close to the end of their service life, a structural modification process is required to increase the fuselage flight hours. In this context, the F-16 Structural Improvement Project is being carried out by the Turkish Aerospace Industry.

In the statement made by the Presidency of Defense Industry, it was stated that the structural improvement of the sixth F-16 Block-30 aircraft within the scope of the project has been completed. The plane was delivered to the Air Force Command. The post on the subject by SSB is as follows:

Structural improvements of the F-16 Blok-30 aircraft are in progress. ✈️

✅ As part of the F-16 Structural Improvement Project, we delivered the sixth F-16 Block-30 aircraft to the Air Force Command, whose structural improvement was completed.

➡️ @TUSAS_TR #IstiklalveİstikbâlimizİFOR pic.twitter.com/uEuGm3mq8z

- SSB (@Sav SavunmaSanayii) May 26, 2021

Turkish Aviation and Space Industry Inc. (TAI), repairs and changes and reinforcement applications were made on the body where deemed necessary within the scope of structural improvements. After the Acceptance Test and Inspection activities, the final test flight was made by HvKK pilots, and the first F-16 Block-30 aircraft was accepted successfully in July 2020. Thus, an important milestone in F-16 Structural Improvement activities was completed. Structural improvement of 35 F-16 Block-30 aircraft is planned within the scope of the project.

SSB Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir said in a statement regarding the activity in July 2020, “In the project, where engineering works were carried out for the renovation and revision of 1200-1500 pieces of structural parts per aircraft, repair and replacement and hull reinforcement applications are carried out where necessary. With the project carried out by Turkish Aerospace Industries, we aim to increase the structural life of our F-16 aircraft, the main striking element of our air force, from 8000 hours to 12000 hours. had included his statements.

Within the scope of the F-16 Structural Improvement project, 30 of the Block-25 aircraft were planned to be modernized by TAI and 10 by the 1st Air Supply and Maintenance Center Command.

Source: defenceturk