The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Jordan of an F-16 Air Combat Training Center and related equipment for an estimated cost of $60 million. The Government of Jordan has requested to buy an F-16 Air Combat Training Center and Devices including full mission trainers, combat tactics trainers, instructor/operator stations, tactical environment simulators, brief/debrief stations, scenario generation stations, database generation stations, mission observation centers, and other training center equipment and support; software and software support; publications and technical documentation; maintenance, spares and repair parts and services; U.S. and contractor engineering, technical, and logistical support services; and other related elements of program support. The estimated total cost is $60 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. The proposed sale will improve Jordan’s capability to meet current and future threats by ensuring Jordan’s pilots are effectively trained, which will contribute to the U.S.-Jordan lasting partnership and ensure the country’s stability, a critical element to broader U.S. regional policy goals. Jordan will use this asset to enhance training of pilots. Jordan will have no difficulty absorbing these training center assets and simulators into its armed forces. The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin Corporation Rotary & Mission Systems, Orlando, FL. Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of two U.S. Lockheed Martin contractor representatives to Jordan for a duration of 2 years to support training.
The Royal Jordanian Air Force operates a total of 64 F-16A/B aircraft, 16 of which are ADFs, while the remaining 39 are MLUs or have been modified to MLU standard. For a number of years the Royal Jordanian AF recognized the need to give the leased aircraft a mid-life update in the next 2 or 3 years. It was unclear for a long time whether reference was made to the MLU-program, or just to updates in general. In January of 2004 however a LOA for an $87 million contract was signed between Jordan and Lockheed-Martin for the update of the 17 Peace Falcon II aircraft. This modification consists of enhancements to the cockpit, avionics, sensors and weapons. Together with this upgrade this package also includes Falcon UP and Falcon STAR structural upgrades. These structural upgrades will extend the service life to 8,000 flight hours with these aircraft being able to remain in service for another 20 years.
