ST Aerospace showcases mission-ready F-16 upgrade solution - Falcon ONE
Monday, February 25, 2002
Asian Aerospace 2002, Singapore - Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd (ST Aerospace), the aerospace arm of Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering), is showcasing its mission-ready, highly flexible and customised F-16 upgrade solution, Falcon ONE at the Asian Aerospace 2002 show. The Falcon ONE flight instrument is driven by a Mission Computer (MC), which runs a flight-worthy Operational Flight Program (OFP).
An integrated, state-of-the-art weapon delivery and navigation system designed and developed for early F-16 models, Falcon ONE is on display from 26 February to 3 March in the ST Engineering Pavilion which is located at the main entrance of the Changi Exhibition Centre.
A highly customised F-16 upgrade solution, Falcon ONE has an in-built modular design architecture. The OFP software is written in C++, the latest software language. The MC, developed by ST Aerospace, has a revolutionary open architecture that utilises a VME-based Power PC processor system. Both the OFP and MC provide the highest flexibility and ease for incorporating additional capabilities, advanced sensors and weapons to suit an operator's current or future requirements. The Digital Moving Map (DMM) cards provided by BAE SYSTEMS, were transported into ST Aerospace's MC with minimal changes.
Falcon ONE equips F-16s with avionics, sensor and weapon capabilities that are comparable to those of the latest generation of fighters. Falcon ONE boasts highly enhanced performance for tactical situational awareness, lethality, night/adverse weather operations and survivability.
To enhance tactical situational awareness, Falcon ONE features an advanced radar, improved Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), three 5" x 7" Multi-Functional Colour Displays (MFCDs), Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS), Data Link and Smart Data Processing. The three MFCDs provided by L-3 Communications Display Systems, provides the F-16 pilot an unprecedented 105 square inches of configurable graphics and colour display information in the most optimised form to avoid data overloading. The pilot-awareness page provides a plan view showing a complete tactical situation that is overlaid on a DMM.
For enhanced lethality, Falcon ONE has been designed to optimise the deployment of any active or passive weapon that an operator may decide to equip the aircraft with. Besides providing unobtrusive display of flight parameters, sensor data and weapon status, the HMDS is also specifically designed for slaving seeker heads of short-range missiles for high off-bore-sight shots in order to provide the deadly "look and kill" capability.
To enhance the aircraft performance for adverse-visibility operations, Falcon ONE utilises Digital Terrain Database to generate appropriate Flight Director Cues on the HUD to facilitate low-level manual-terrain following flights. The wide-angle HUD is raster capable allowing raster image such as Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) imagery to be projected on it. The system is also fully compatible with Night Vision Goggles (NVGs), Navigation FLIR pods and Targeting pods.
Falcon ONE enhances the survivability of the F-16 by incorporating improved RWR and automated chaff/flares dispensing system. With a smart data link, the Falcon ONE aircraft will be fighting in a highly integrated and connected operating environment. Real-time fusion of data from multiple sources will provide an edge in information warfare. The system also allows smart ground collision warning cues based on the actual flight terrain for enhanced flight safety.
ST Aerospace's strategic direction in developing the F-16 avionics and structural upgrade is a natural progression from its extensive upgrade capabilities developed over the years from upgrading the McDonnell Douglas A-4, Northrop F-5, Lockheed Martin C-130, Fokker 50 and other aircraft.
BAE SYSTEMS provided the HUD, HMDS, DMM and the Cockpit Camera. BAE SYSTEMS is a leading supplier of head-up displays, with over 11,000 in service in 50 countries, on 50 aircraft types. Its F-16 HUD is currently the only HUD qualified for flight on all variants of the F-16 aircraft.
