Twenty years after their introduction, which represented a substantial shift in doctrine and air combat capabilities, the Chilean Air Force’s (FACh) F-16 fighter fleet has added a new chapter to its history with the recent award of a US$98.8 million international support and maintenance contract to BAE Systems. This is the first agreement of its kind directly involving Chile within a global support program for F-16 operating countries and represents a key step in projecting the long-term operational capability of these fighter jets. The move coincides with a crucial moment for the FACh, which is currently focused on modernizing its F-16 Block MLU aircraft to maintain its technological competitiveness in the face of regional challenges.
The contract, awarded by the United States Air Force on February 20 of this year, stipulates that BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc, based in San Diego, California, will provide engineering services and support for electronic components and automated systems. These tasks will ensure the operability of the avionics systems and diagnostic equipment of F-16 aircraft belonging to an extensive list of allied countries, including Chile, Jordan, Taiwan, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Iraq, Bahrain, Portugal, Thailand, Poland, Greece, Oman, Romania, Singapore, Turkey, South Korea, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, and Pakistan. The work will extend through February 2037, under the supervision of the Air Force Sustainment Center at Hill Air Force Base.
In the Chilean case, this agreement is part of the technological modernization process currently underway. In November 2023, the Chilean government signed a US$177 million contract with Lockheed Martin to modernize its F-16 MLU aircraft to the “Standard Tape M 6.6” configuration, which includes improvements in avionics, communications, radar, and weaponry. The work will be carried out both in the United States (in Fort Worth and Greenville) and in Chile, and is expected to be completed by 2032, with the possibility of incorporating extended support services.
Despite the program’s strategic importance, the Chilean Air Force (FACh) has not issued any official statements regarding its scope, timeline, or technical specifications. This secrecy has fueled speculation among defense analysts and observers, particularly concerning the possible incorporation of the AN/APG-83 SABR (AESA) radar, an electronically scanned active array fire control system with a detection range of approximately 230 miles. If its integration is confirmed, the Chilean F-16s would be among the most advanced in South America, strengthening their interoperability with allies and their anticipatory air defense capabilities.
It should be recalled that Chile’s F-16s had already undergone a previous modernization in 2012, aimed at upgrading the Block 15 models acquired from the Netherlands, preparing the platform for further enhancements such as those currently being implemented. These successive update stages have made it possible to sustain the fleet’s operational relevance, consolidating it as an essential component of national air power.
Two decades after their arrival at “Los Cóndores” Air Base in Iquique, the F-16 Block 50 aircraft continue to serve as the backbone of Chilean air defense. Equipped with multimode radar, self-protection systems, aerial refueling capability, and Link-16 data link, they operate integrated within a network-centric combat system alongside E-3D Sentry early warning aircraft and KC-135 Stratotanker tankers, forming a modern and persistent defense structure.
The new contract with BAE Systems, due to its scope and long-term projection, reinforces Chile’s strategy of keeping its fleet fully operational over the next decade, demonstrating a predictable and sustainable life-cycle management approach. In a constantly evolving regional environment, the Chilean Air Force thus consolidates an air defense model based on continuity, interoperability, and logistical efficiency.
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
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