Lockheed Martin is preparing to start weapons-systems tests on the F-16E/F Block 60 Desert Falcon destined for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following a successful nine-month flight-test programme at the company's Fort Worth, Texas site.

Revealing the first significant details about the Block 60 test programme - launched when the UAE placed an $8 billion order for 80 aircraft in 2001 - Lockheed Martin says the first three test aircraft have amassed more than 170 sorties since F-1, first two-seat F-16F, flew on 6 December 2003. The second aircraft, F-2, flew in April 2004 and the third F-16F joined the test programme in June. Deliveries of the first three production aircraft, fitted out to an initial Standard 1 configuration, began in July. The commercial contract covers the delivery of 55 single-seat F-16Es and 25 F-16Fs by the end of 2007.

Speaking at the Society of Experimental Test Pilots symposium in Los Angeles, F-16E/F chief test pilot Stephen Barker said the initial batch of test aircraft were being worked hard, with F-2 now on a "semi-deployment" to Holloman AFB, New Mexico, where it was being used for initial training. "Time is at a premium," said Barker, adding that many of the Block 60 features had already been tested "at a component level". This includes the higher-thrust General Electric F110-132 engine and autothrottle system, multifunction data probe, integrated forward-looking infrared and targeting system, and conformal fuel tanks.

Other Block 60 features include a new avionics suite, an APG-80 active-array radar, advanced flight-control system, new large-format cockpit displays, advanced mission computer, APX-113 IFF interrogator and colour moving-map display. Changes resulting from flight tests include tweaks to the flight-control system to reduce roll sensitivity and to counter "degraded" Dutch roll characteristics.

As well as weapon-systems work, tests of the Block 60 will include high angle-of-attack evaluations, loads surveys, flutter and overall aircraft performance data work.

GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES

Source: Flight International