The Israeli F-16I Sufa, directly off Lockheed Martin's production
line was welcomed by the Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz. The
new aircraft was the first of 102 ordered by Jerusalem in 1997.
Three squadrons of the new aircraft are expected to be operational by
2008 with the first strike aircraft arriving next month.
In addition to the new and more powerful Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229
engine, the F-16I has numerous modifications. The engine will enable
it to achieve a maximum take-off weight of 23,582kg. The Sufa has
been customized with new avionic technologies, internally mounted
FLIR, forward looking infrared, viewers, and cutting edge weapon
system hardware provided by the Israeli defense company Lahav - a
division of Israel Aircraft Industries.
The Lahav technology will allow for simultaneous, multi-target
air-to-air engagement and increased standoff and survivability
capabilities. The F-16I has been earmarked to receive the new Python
5 imaging infrared-guided high agility air-to-air missile produced by
Rafael, the former Israeli Armaments Development Authority.
The predecessor to the Python 5, the Python 4, was regarded to be the
most advanced heat-seeking missile in the world. The Python 5 boasts
a new seeker less prone to countermeasures, lock-after-launch
capabilities, and an extended operational engagement time once fired.
In addition, the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-68(V)9 multimode radar
increases the distance of airborne engagement by 30 percent over the
older APG-69 system and affords the "Sufa" with a high-resolution
synthetic-aperture ground mapping capability.
With the additional 102 new F-16Is, Israel will operate a total of
362 F-16s - the largest fleet of F-16s in the world outside of the
United States Air Force.
The Israeli Air Force's (IAF) F-16I Sufa (Storm), a two seater, is
the latest version of the Lockheed Martin F-16. The estimated $4.5
billion dollar F-16I deal, $45 million per aircraft, will be financed
by the annual U.S. military aid package and concludes the largest
ever Israeli military purchase. Israel had originally ordered 50
F-16Is in 2001 but increased the purchase to 102 after deciding
against the procurement of additional F-15Is. The acquisition of the
Sufa, compliments Israel's deterrent strategy by further
strengthening the potentia; threat to carry out retaliatory strikes
throughout the Middle East. The F-16I has an unrefueled combat strike
radius well in excess of 500 miles. The extended flight range allows
Israeli forces to attack targets well within Iran and Libya without
having to refuel. The cockpit of the F-16I has been expanded to
provide for the addition of an onboard weapons officer situated
behind the pilot.