Lockheed Martin contract to provide Service Life Extension Program for South Korea F-16 fighter aircraft.

According to a contract released by the U.S. DoD (Department of Defense) on July 31, 2020, Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $34,177,354 firm-fixed-price modification (P00031) to contract FA8615-17-C-6045 for the Service Life Extension Program for the Republic of Korea's F-16 aircraft.

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Two Republic of Korea (ROK) Air Force KF-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft take off from Kunsan Air Base (AB), ROK.(Picture source Wikimedia)

Work will be performed in the Republic of Korea and is expected to be completed Aug. 15, 2026. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Foreign Military Sales in the full amount will be obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.

Citing F-16. net website, the Republic of Korea Air Force operates a total of 180 F-16C/D aircraft, and was the second air force to fly the F-16C/D. South Korea has both block 30 and block 52 aircraft (locally designated KF-16) in its inventory, and is the 5th country with an F-16 production line.

In December of 1981, the Republic of Korea signed a letter of agreement for the purchase of 36 F-16C/D block 32 Fighting Falcons under the Peace Bridge I Foreign Military Sales program.

This made the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) the first foreign operator of the F-16C/D model of the Fighting Falcon. These aircraft were to augment the F-4D/E Phantoms and the F-5E Tiger II's, which were at that time the primary combat aircraft serving with the ROKAF.

The F-16C/D can fly at a maximum speed of 2,125 km/h with a maximum range of 3,886 km. It is powered by a one 13154-kg (29,000-lb) afterburning thrust Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 or General Electric F110-GE-129 turbofan.

The F-16C/D can be armed with one 20-mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon with 500 rounds, plus provision for up to 9276 kg (20,450 Ib) of external ordnance on one under fuselage, six underwing and two tip hardpoints, this total declining to 5420 kg (11,950 Ib) for sorties including 9-g maneuvers; the ordnance can include AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, a wide range of disposable ordnance (free-tall and guided), drop tanks and electronic pods (ECM, reconnaissance and targeting).