Chris Pocock has been covering the defense beat for AIN for over 30&nbsp;years. He is a British citizen and a graduate of the University of Cambridge. Chris worked in the air cargo business for ten years before becoming a full-time writer in 1983. He subsequently edited two air cargo journals before becoming AIN’s Defense Editor. He retired from that position in 2018, but still contributes to the publication. Chris has written extensively on aerial reconnaissance, including four books on the history of the U-2 spyplane. He also lectures on this and other topics related to intelligence-gathering in the Cold War.

Defense Correspondent

Chris Pocock

The first of 36 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 52 fighters for the Iraqi Air Force made its first flight from the company’s Fort Worth, Texas facility. Iraq <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/dubai-air-show/2011-11-10/f-16-spearhead-reborn-iraqi-air-force">confirmed the purchase of 18 F-16s in September 2011</a>, and has apparently committed to the other 18 since then. The Iraqi and other orders have extended the F-16 production line through 2017. More than 4,540 F-16s have been delivered to date.


Meanwhile, although the U.S. Air Force has dropped the ambitious Combat Avionics Programmed Extension Suite (CAPES) for 300 Block 40-52 aircraft for budget reasons, once described by Lockheed Martin as <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/singapore-air-show/2012-02-15/aesa-radar-sparks-new-life-f-16">the F-16V model</a>, the service is still requesting $1.4 billion over the next five years for F-16 modernization and service-life extension programs (SLEPs). The Air Force wants to upgrade the electronic attack pod and the modular mission computer and enhance the operational flight program. The latter will allow integration of new weapons such as the JASSM-ER, and new targeting pods. The “legacy” SLEP will add about 2,000 hours of life, making 10,000-plus hours, to about 300 aircraft. That will extend their service lives by between six and eight years. Further structural modifications are being designed for the Block 40-52 fleet.


In testimony to Congress last month, U.S. Air Force chief of staff Gen. Mark Welsh said that the F-16 is the primary replacement for the A-10 Thunderbolt fleet that the service wants to axe for budget reasons.

Iraq F-16 Flies; U.S. Requests More Upgrades

Orders from Iraq and other nations have extended the F-16 production line through 2017.

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