RMU CASE STUDY / F-16

Honeywell and the F-16. Possibilities of Transformation.Made Easy.

THE FACTS F-16

RMU CASE STUDIES / Honeywell and the F-16 1

Conceived in the post-Vietnam era, the “Fighting Falcon” is perfectly designed to deliver against the critical lightweight tactical mission. An alternative to the heavier, less maneuverable fighters that it replaced, the single-engine Falcon quickly became a multi-role workhorse, capable of performing a wide range of missions. It was the first fighter aircraft specifically designed to pull 9-g maneuvers and reach a maximum speed of Mach 2. It has a thrust-to-weight ratio greater than one, providing power to climb and accelerate vertically.

The F-16’s proven record of performance, versatility and reliability make it the ideal aircraft for a wide range of air force missions. As a testament to its maneuverability, the F-16 is the aircraft used by the U.S. Air Force aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds.

More than 4,500 F-16s have been delivered since production was approved by the U.S. Air Force in 1976, making the Falcon the most successful fighter aircraft of the later 20th century, according to manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

Today, various versions of the F-16 are mainstays of fighter fleets for 28 countries including the U.S. and original NATO partners Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands. Other countries operating F-16 fleets include Turkey, Egypt, South Korea and Greece.

Innovative from the start with features including the first fly-by-wire system for a fighter aircraft, the F-16 hasn’t lost a step over the last four decades. Lockheed Martin has continually upgraded the Falcon with structural, avionics and other improvements to ensure that the aircraft remains relevant for another 40 years. The latest example is the F-16 Viper or F-16V, now in development and available from the manufacturer for new-production programs and upgrade programs for existing aircraft.

Honeywell has been an integral part of the F-16 team from the beginning of the development program in the 1970s. Honeywell technology provides Falcon pilots with a wide range of capabilities that improve operational performance, situational awareness, safety, reliability and mission-availability. Key Honeywell innovations include the Color Multifunctional Display System, Programmable Display Generator, Digital Flight Control Computer, Emergency Power Unit and Environmental Control System.

The F-16 is nearing 40-year service anniversary

c.1976

The F-16 may be nearing its 40-year service anniversary but it’s still the lightweight champion of many of the world’s air forces.

40

×4,500

4,500 F-16s have been delivered since production was approved by the U.S. Air Force in 1976

– Easy to upgrade F-16s to add new capabilities

– Upgrades improve mission effectiveness

– Upgrades extend the useful life of the F-16

THE FACTS F-16

RMU CASE STUDIES / Honeywell and the F-16 2

Retrofits, Modifications and Upgrades Extend F-16s Useful Life.

In today’s dynamic global military environment, air forces throughout the world still rely on various models of F-16 to fulfill critical defense missions. Many operate aircraft that are considerably older than the pilots who fly them. They face the challenge of keeping their F-16 fleets viable and up-to-date with retrofit, modification and upgrade (RMU) solutions designed to improve efficiency, reduce operating and maintenance costs, increase aircraft availability and extend the useful life of the F-16. As an original equipment provider of critical F-16 systems, Honeywell is uniquely qualified to apply its technical expertise in electronic and mechanical systems to revitalize this battle-proven aircraft.

Honeywell RMUs make it easy for F-16 operators to upgrade their fleets, adding new capabilities, improving mission effectiveness and extending aircraft life. In most cases they are drop-in replacements for previous-generation systems and offer size, weight and power advantages.

Honeywell RMUs for the F-16 include:

Common Color Multifunctional Display (CCMFD)A drop-fit replacement for the original Color Multifunctional Display System, the CCMFD uses ruggedized commercial LED technology to increase readability and reduce power consumption. The four-inch by four-inch displays provide pilots with high-resolution, full-color video under all lighting conditions, from full sunlight to use with night-vision imaging systems, and provide the unparalleled situational awareness that this generation of Falcon pilots needs. The display is significantly more reliable than the previous system, with more than 8,000 hours mean time between expected repairs.

Enhanced Color Programmable Display Generator (eCPDG)Better displays require better display generators and the Honeywell ECPDG offers an 11 times improvement in processing speed and 77 times more memory than the display generator that equips most F-16s today. It also provides high-resolution output capability and is digital-map ready. Updating is easy for F-16 operators thanks to map-processor and mass-memory circuit cards that fit into existing card slots and data upgrades that can be done onboard using the unit’s built-in Ethernet port.

In service with 28 countries including:US, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, The Netherlands, Turkey, Egypt,South Korea and Greece

F-16 LIFESPAN

EFFECTIVENESS

EASY UPGRADE

THE FACTS F-16

3

Advanced Central Air Data Computer (ACADC)The ACADC enhances performance, resolves obsolescence issues and delivers long-term reliability for F-16 operators. A simple drop-in replacement for existing Air Data Computers, the ACADC uses highly accurate long-life silicon sensors to improve aircraft availability, enhance reliability and reduce total ownership costs. The new unit consumes less power and offers a 10-fold improvement in reliability.

Emergency Power Unit Turbine Wheel UpgradeHoneywell has redesigned the turbine wheel for the Emergency Power Unit to improve reliability, increase service life and reduce operating costs. With the new unit, the required wheel change interval has doubled to more than 4,000 hours.

Air Cycle Machine Bearing UpgradeWe also have redesigned the air cycle machine to improve reliability through the use of the latest bearing technology. The new unit provides improved bearing cooling airflow to reduce contamination and has been field-proven to reduce removal rates by as much as 50 percent.

LED Backlight RetrofitBy upgrading from fluorescent backlights to LEDs on the CCMFD, F-16 operators can provide their pilots with superior optical performance, reliability and efficiency while reducing the need for mechanical cooling. The retrofit provides a 10-times improvement in luminance.

RMU CASE STUDIES / Honeywell and the F-16

Advanced Central Air Data Computer (ACADC):– Reduces power consumption– Improves reliability by 10×

LED Backlight Retrofit: – Provides a 10× improvement

in luminance

Air Cycle Machine Bearing Upgrade:– Improves bearing cooling airflow– Reduces contamination– Reduces removal rate by as much

as 50 percent

-50% Removal

Time

Honeywell Aerospace 1944 East Sky Harbor Circle Phoenix, Arizona 85034 North America: +1 (800) 601 3099 Outside North America: +1 (602) 365 3099 www.honeywell.com

N61-1360-000-000December 2014© 2014 Honeywell International Inc.

Conclusion

In an age of reduced military procurement, the world’s air forces are challenged to find ways to contain costs and extend the operating life of their existing fleets. Honeywell has unique platform experience with the F-16 and unparalleled expertise in developing RMU solutions that improve safety, efficiency and mission effectiveness.

To find out more about Honeywell’s RMU solutions for the F-16 and a range of other platforms visit aerospace.honeywell.com/rmu/index.html