ETI Starwin Captures Multi-Year F-16 Award with CNI Advantage

Driving High-Velocity AESA Modernization 
ETI Starwin has captured a major multi-year, multi-million dollar award to produce advanced F-16 Radar Modernization Program (RMP) shrouds in partnership with CNI Advantage, LLC. This contract builds directly on ETI Starwin’s radome award and doubles down on its commitment to ensure the F-16 remains a decisive force in modern air combat.

The Radar Modernization Program (RMP) is the most significant leap in capability the F-16 has received in decades. At its core is the transition to Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, a technology that delivers longer detection ranges, crystal-clear resolution, enhanced resistance to electronic jamming, and the ability to track and engage multiple threats simultaneously. AESA gives the F-16 pilot an unmatched picture of the battlespace, transforming the aircraft from a legacy fourth-generation platform into a nearly unstoppable force that can hold its own alongside fifth-generation fighters like the F-35.

The composite shrouds ETI Starwin will deliver — designed and tooled internally with proprietary composite fabrication processes — are critical to housing and protecting the AESA radar system. By teaming with CNI Advantage, ETI Starwin is fusing precision composites manufacturing with proven program integration expertise to create a high-velocity production pipeline. This fast-track execution ensures the radar upgrade reaches the fleet expeditiously, securing U.S. and allied air dominance in the most contested environments worldwide.

“This program is about collaboration and speed” said Andrew Chavez, President of ETI Starwin. “The stakes are elevated every day. The warfighter demands high velocity, and ETI Starwin is delivering it.”

This award is administered in concert with DLA Land & Maritime Supply Chain in Columbus, Ohio, and DCMA Ohio River Valley at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. It highlights ETI Starwin’s ability to move decisively in support of the Department of Defense’s modernization priorities and reinforces the F-16’s status as a force to be reckoned with globally.

About ETI Starwin

ETI Starwin is a precision aerospace and defense manufacturer with over 50 years of experience in machining, welding, composites, kitting, and assembly. The company has developed proprietary tooling and composite fabrication capabilities that uniquely position it to deliver on programs like the F-16 RMP.

Its portfolio includes F-16 and F-35 components and assemblies, C-5 Galaxy troop seats, Sea Sparrow launcher covers, and other mission-critical assemblies for the U.S. DoD and major OEMs including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, Raytheon, and DLA.

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Land & Maritime Supply Chain in Columbus, Ohio, in coordination with the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) Ohio River Valley and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, has awarded a bilateral contract to ETI / Starwin for the supply of the F-16 Radome assembly as part of the F-16 Radar Modernization Program (RMP).
This award provides ETI / Starwin the opportunity to deliver advanced Radome components enabling the integration of the AN/APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) — an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar system at the core of the F-16 RMP.

New Capabilities for the F-16 Warfighter
The APG-83 AESA radar, housed within ETI / Starwin’s Radome assemblies, dramatically increases the combat capability of the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Key advantages include:

• Extended Detection & Tracking – AESA radars provide 5th-generation fighter radar performance, extending range and enabling pilots to track and engage multiple threats simultaneously.
• All-Weather Targeting – Enhanced resolution allows warfighters to identify and prosecute targets through weather, electronic warfare interference, and low-visibility conditions.
• Electronic Protection – AESA technology is resistant to jamming and designed to survive in highly contested electromagnetic environments.
• Increased Survivability – Improved situational awareness and threat detection allow F-16 pilots to react faster and with greater precision in complex battle spaces.
• Mission Flexibility – Supports both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, including precision strike, maritime targeting, and homeland defense.

The F-16 Radar Modernization Program ensures the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard fleets remain combat-relevant and interoperable with allied 5th-generation platforms, strengthening deterrence and coalition security worldwide.

Program Overview

• Scope: Modernization of ~450 F-16s with AESA radar capability.
• Production Status: Entered full-rate production in September 2024 after successful operational testing.
• Contracting Organizations: DLA Land & Maritime (Columbus, OH), DCMA Ohio River Valley, Wright-Patterson AFB.
• Impact: Extends the service life of the F-16 fleet well into the 2030s, ensuring continued U.S. and allied warfighter dominance.
• Global Reach: While the RMP is currently tailored to the U.S. fleet, AESA radar upgrades are aligned with Foreign Military Sales (FMS) opportunities for allied operators of the F-16 worldwide.

"Our team at ETI Starwin is proud to play a vital role in delivering advanced manufacturing solutions that give the F-16 warfighter decisive advantages on the battlefield," said Andrew Chavez, President of ETI Starwin. "By providing components that enhance radar performance, survivability, and mission effectiveness, we are helping ensure the United States and our allies stay ahead of all threats — today and in the future."

About ETI Starwin
For more than 50 years, ETI Starwin has been a trusted partner to the U.S.G. Department of Defense, and major OEMs including Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Boeing,  BAE Systems, Raytheon, and the Defense Logistics Agency.
Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, ETI / Starwin specializes in precision machining, welding, composites, and aerospace assembly that support mission-critical platforms across air, land, and sea. With a heritage built on innovation and execution, ETI Starwin continues to deliver best-in-class manufacturing solutions that strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and empower the warfighter.

​Contact: John Gevedon, Business Development Director, [email protected]