Out With The Old, In With The Updated

Officials from the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea received 18 modified F-16 Fighting Falcons in mid-January from Alaska's Eielson Air Force Base, as the two bases exchange fighter aircraft.

Currently, 80th Fighter Squadron pilots at Kunsan AB are flying Block 30s, which will transition to the aggressor squadron based at Eielson AFB.

Shortly after the arrival of aircraft from Eielson AFB, 80th FS members will begin the movement of 16 F-16s to the Alaskan-based unit.

The Common Configuration Implementation Program, or CCIP, modified aircraft from Eielson AFB provide significant avionics upgrades, a joint helmet mounted cueing system and a modular mission computer to F-16 Block 40s and 50s. The CCIP upgrades ensure state-of-the-art, combat capability well into the 21st century.

The swap out is larger than an earlier trial in October.

"This swap will definitely be easier for both operations and maintenance Airmen given our three months of experience with our first four Block 40 CCIP airplanes," said Lt. Col. Shane Riza, the 80th FS director of operations. "More than 80 percent of our pilots are now qualified to fly the new jets; something we accomplished in 2.5 months with only four jets."

The colonel said he is confident there will be a seamless flow as they ramp up to full combat capability in minimum time with the new aircraft.

The 18 F-16s that arrived in January concludes the wing's swap out for the 80th FS under the CCIP upgrade.

(Aero-News thanks by Staff Sgt. Araceli Alarcon, 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs)

FMI: www.af.mil