Air Force issues RFP for F-16 SLEP

The Air Force issued a request for proposals this week for the F-16 Service-Life Extension Program, an effort that could keep up to 841 U.S. and international F-16s flying through 2048.

The Nov. 20 RFP seeks a contractor to produce up to 841 kits through an initial five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract. The Air Force has a requirement to upgrade 300 Block 40 and 52 F-16 C/D model jets, but that number could grow to 489.

The service said in June it expects to award a contract worth up to $403 million in March 2018.

The Air Force is also working to upgrade the F-16's radar, and selected Northrop Grumman in June to provide 72 Active Electronically Scanned Array radars for Air National Guard F-16s. In fiscal year 2018 defense policy legislation, passed by the House and Senate last week, lawmakers require the service to develop a plan to modernize the Guard's entire fleet.