Review and Analysis of Upgrades to Naval and Air Force Aircraft to Identify Similarities and Trends from Fiscal Year 1998 to 2013.

摘要

This project examines the upgrades to U.S. Navy F/A-18 and Air Force F-16 aircraft, each of which are Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs). Timelines are examined to illustrate when the various platform upgrades were requested via the Presidential budget. The types of upgrades are noted and reviewed to capture which upgrades were pursued on what airframes within each type/model/series of aircraft. As a result of this project, the USD(AT&L) will have a foundation upon which further research may build to better discern whether there is an optimal interval between modifications. The intent of this project is not to determine whether the time-phased implementation of upgrades is feasible, but rather to identify similarities and capture any trends of various upgrades. The goal of this project is twofold: first, to provide a summary review of upgrades to U.S. Naval and Air Force aircraft, and second, to investigate the opportunity for any follow-on studies of additional MDAP modifications/block upgrades.