The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Monday of plans to sell the government off Singapore a package of upgrades for that country's F-16 fighter jets. Specifically, Singapore wishes to buy upgrades for its 60 F-16C/D/D+ fighter jets, including the following equipment to be installed on the planes:
- 70 each (to equip planes, and keep spare parts at hand) of Active Electronically Scanned Array Radars, LN-260 Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems, Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems, and APX-125 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe Combined Interrogator Transponders.
- Testing and training (unarmed) versions of both the AIM-9X Block II "Sidewinder" air-to-air missile, TGM-65G Maverick air-to-surface missile.
- Testing and training versions also of GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway, and GBU-50 Guided Bomb Units, GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions, and CBU-105 (D-4)/B Sensor Fused Weapons.
- Various other equipment, software, and services needed to upgrade the planes.
In total, the foreign military sales covered by this notification are valued at approximately $2.43 billion.
DSCA advised Congress that the fleet of F-16s in the Republic of Singapore Air Force, or RSAF, is "aging" and in need of upgrades to improve the planes' "capability, survivability, and reliability." Once upgraded, the RSAF should be better able "to defend its borders and contribute to coalition operations with other allied forces" such as the United States.
DSCA did not name any single company as its principal contractor under this proposed arms sale. However, as Lockheed Martin (LMT 1.71%) builds the F-16, and Raytheon (RTN) is the primary manufacturer of most of the munitions described on the above shopping list, it stands to reason that these two firms, at least, would play some role in the $2.43 billion contract.
