What’s New
The U.S. Air Force is pushing forward with a significant upgrade to its fleet of F-16 jet fighters as part of a modernization effort aimed at enhancing the safety and capabilities of the aircraft.
The Air Force has reopened the competition for its Next-Generation Ejection Seat (NGES) program, with an initial focus on the F-16.
The competition may expand to include a variety of other military aircraft, marking a significant step in the development of advanced ejection seat technology.
Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Air Force for comment via email outside of normal office hours.
Why It Matters
NATO members such as Denmark and the Netherlands have gifted U.S.-built F-16s to Ukraine with Washington’s approval as Kyiv continues to battle against invading Russian forces.
The F-16 is widely used by air forces across the globe, including those of NATO members such as Greece, Poland and Turkey.
As the F-16 continues to play a key role in both U.S. and allied air forces, ensuring the safety and performance of its pilots is paramount.
The new ejection seats will enhance pilot survivability in emergencies, offering quicker and safer ejections, improved seat stability, and better adaptability for pilots of all body types.
This update is part of an effort to upgrade the F-16’s systems, ensuring that it remains a vital asset for modern air combat.
What To Know
The decision to reopen the competition is based on the analysis of industry feedback collected from a Sources Sought notice issued in August 2024, which provided valuable insights and technical input from industry partners.
In 2020, the Air Force awarded a contract to Collins Aerospace for the NGES program for the F-15, based on prior market research and an assessment of technological maturity. In light of new data, updated market research and changing operational requirements, the Air Force will now issue a revised acquisition strategy for the F-16.
A new request for proposal will be issued to enable more companies to compete for the NGES contract.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other Kyiv officials had been advocating for more F-16s to strengthen their defenses in the war that Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated in February 2022.
In May 2023, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan informed reporters that President Joe Biden had “notified his G7 counterparts” that the U.S. would start permitting allies to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets. Since then, multiple countries have pledged to send the aircraft to Ukraine.
What People Are Saying
Andrew Hunter, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, said: “The decision to reopen the competition underscores our commitment to continually assess our strategies to ensure we meet warfighter needs and timelines.
“By reassessing market conditions and fostering competition, we ensure industry delivers the best possible solutions for both current and future Air Force requirements.
“Our priority is to stay flexible and responsive to emerging technologies while keeping existing programs on schedule to meet operational needs.”
RUSI Associate Fellow Oleksandr V. Danylyuk said in a statement: “A few hundred outdated Leopard 1s and a few dozen under-modernized F-16s will not be sufficient to give Ukraine fighting parity, let alone an advantage.”
What’s Next
The introduction of competition in the NGES program will initially focus on the F-16 but outcomes may extend to other platforms, such as the F-22 and B-1. The Air Force will continue its existing program with Collins Aerospace to develop, integrate, and deploy the F-15 NGES.
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