Service Life Extension Upgrade for up to 50 Shipsets
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) informed Congress on 28 July of a potential Foreign Military Sale transaction to the Swiss government for upgrades and services to support the Swiss F/A-18 fleet. The total value of the upgrade is estimated at U$115 million.
The Swiss request covers a possible Service Life Extension Programme for its F/A-18C/D aircraft, to include up to 50 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) with Concurrent Multi-Net 4 (CMN-4) capability; 50 ARC-210 GEN 5 RT-1900A(C) radios incorporating Second Generation Anti-Jam Tactical UHF Radio for NATO (SATURN) frequency hopping; 20 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) Night Vision Cueing Display (NVCD); CIT Automated Dependence Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out; software enhancements to the APG-73 radar; improvements to the F/A-18 Software Configuration Set (SCS) 29C; and sustainment for the ALQ-165 Airborne Self Protection Jammer (ASPJ) system.
Operational support for these modifications will be provided through upgrades to the purchaser’s unique Mission Data System. Also included are system integration and testing; software development and integration; support equipment; spare and repair parts; maintenance personnel and pilot familiarisation training; software support; publications and technical documents; US government and contractor technical assistance; and other related elements of logistics and programme support.
The principal contractors will be Boeing, Data Link Solutions and Rockwell Collins.
Tim Mahon
