Thread: Turkey to retrofit it's F-16 with indegenous ASELSAN Mission Computers

In a rare move to prevent speculation that foreign manufacturers have the power to disable Turkish vipers by executing hidden segments of software not revealed to Turkish authorities, Turkey has decided to retrofit it's F-16 with ASELSAN of Turkey designed and developed mission computers. The program will be initiated with Block 30 vipers firslty.

TuAF F-16 Block 30s to fly with Turkish computers
TuAF F-16 Block 30s to fly with Turkish computers | TRDEFENCE

Turkey will start integrating indigenous flight mission computers on its fleet of Block 30-type F-16 fighting falcons, daily Hurriyet newspaper reported.

The decision came after a key Defense Industry Executive Committee (SSIK) meeting that, for the first time, gave the green light for development of Turkey’s first modern jet trainer and combat aircraft. Turkey’s move to start using its own mission computers on F-16s will greatly increase the country’s self-sufficiency in aerial defence and add to its growing pool of know-how and aerospace technology.

Turkish F-16s foreign-originated mission computers and hidden source codes have long been a matter of controversy, with some claiming that foreign manufacturers held the power to disable Turkish jets by executing hidden segments of software not revealed to Turkish authorities. The decision to start using indigenously-developed Turkish mission computers and flight software will effectively eliminate these worries.

Turkey’s military eletronics giant Aselsan will design and assemble the new mission computers.

The new mission computers also enable the Turkish vipers to carry Turkish designed weapons such as the Tubitak of Turkey developed Hassas Güdüm Kiti- HGSS guided missiles (AKA Turkish JDAM).