On 14 August 2020 Stavatti received a Letter of Intent (LOI) from a US Allied Air Force to upgrade more than 70 twin engine 4th generation Multi-Role Fighter (MRF) aircraft with new sensors, avionics, displays, electronic countermeasures, powerplants, wheels and brakes with US manufactured components and systems. Stavatti will also provide a structural life-improvement of the aircraft as well as install conformal fuel tanks and underwing external stores pylons that are compatible with towed decoys as well as the carriage and deployment of the AIM-9X and AIM-120C.
The upgrade will significantly improve the combat capability of the MRF aircraft, adding features including an AESA radar, wide-area flat panel LCD displays, new tires/wheels/brakes, a modern IRST. The upgrade will result in an MRF with a 59% increase in tactical radius, a 126% increase in maximum external warload, an 11% increase in maximum level speed, a 28% increase in maximum sea level climb rate, a 27% increase in Maximum Take-Off Weight and a 12% increase in maximum service ceiling over the original baseline aircraft. Stavatti also projects over a 9% reduction in aircraft Cost Per Flight Hour (CPFH) over the original type.
The upgrade will be performed by Stavatti Aerospace Ltd in the United States with Stavatti providing in-country maintenance, spares and contractor logistical support for the end-user. Stavatti estimates that the total global market for this upgrade may exceed 18 nations over the next decade.