f16 F-16 Fighting Falcon: History, Performance & Discussion

[SXTREME 1,467]

Is there any early variant capable of carrying AIM-7s or is it gonna be sidewinder spam?

Edited December 3, 2022 by SXTREME

[spacenavy90 1,399]

Just now, SXTREME said:

Is there any early variant capable of carrying AIM-7s or is it gonna be sidewinder spam?

 

For the USA, no. Only the block 15 ADF or later. It will be Sidewinder spam for all nations except maybe Italy and China (ROC) who should have Sparrow-capable variants if implemented this patch.

[SXTREME 1,467]

20 minutes ago, spacenavy90 said:

For the USA, no. Only the block 15 ADF or later. It will be Sidewinder spam for all nations except maybe Italy and China (ROC) who should have Sparrow-capable variants if implemented this patch.

 

What about a targeting pod, is it capable of using any Paveways?

[spacenavy90 1,399]

2 minutes ago, SXTREME said:

 

What about a targeting pod, is it capable of using any Paveways?

 

No, the F-16 was designed initially to be a lightweight, cheap, pure close-range dogfighter. It wasn't until the F-16C blocks that BVR and precision guided munitions capabilities were added on.

[SrNowel59917 656]

6 hours ago, PhantomRiderWT said:

Basically SU-17/22 and F-14 killer, Mig-23 maybe too, these planes have extremely hot exhaust and flares will be useless.

the mig 29 will probably be the same 

[tripod2008 565]

30 minutes ago, SXTREME said:

 

What about a targeting pod, is it capable of using any Paveways?

Self designation capability was added with the Block 4x / A-16 variants, though the F-16 does have access to the "ITER" / "BRU" so can carry 2x GBU-12 per underwing station station giving a total of 8 PGM's.

The best they get otherwise the the AGM-65A/B if earlier than Block 15, the -65D with Block -25, and the -65G with block 3x (or -15OCU) which itself is limited to carriage on the LAU-117 (single rail), though both underwing stations can carry the rail, limiting it to up to 4x AGM-65 at a time, assuming that "slant loading" won't be forced, making the maximum loads on the LAU-88 (triple rail) 2x per adapter regardless.

 

There is also the GBU-8/B but that is pretty much single loaded on the underwing station

Edited December 3, 2022 by tripod2008

[SXTREME 1,467]

3 minutes ago, tripod2008 said:

Self designation capability was added with the Block 4x / A-16 variants.

The best they get otherwise the the AGM-65A/B if earlier than Block 15, the -65D with Block -25, and the -65G with block 3x (or -15OCU) which is limited to carriage on the LAU-117 (single rail), though both underwing stations can carry the rail, limiting it to 4x AGM-65, assuming that "slant loading" won't be forced maximum loads on the LAU-88 (triple rail) to be 2x per adapter.

 

Yes I read the AGM-65s were pretty much on the board from the start, though my only issue with the 65D variant is it's zoom and imager resolution that's why I was hoping for some TGP. Overall it would be frustrating to be stuck with daylight-only AGM-65s for the 5th consecutive patch if we are to get an earlier than Block 15 F-16.

[tripod2008 565]

8 minutes ago, SXTREME said:

 

Yes I read the AGM-65s were pretty much on the board from the start, though my only issue with the 65D variant is it's zoom and imager resolution that's why I was hoping for some TGP. Overall it would be frustrating to be stuck with daylight-only AGM-65s for the 5th consecutive patch if we are to get an earlier than Block 15 F-16.

At this point the best we can hope for on that front is that the A-6E TRAM gets the AGM-65F. Or that the F-4E either get's its TGP / AGM-65D or that add a "Late" F-4E/G, F-111E/F AV-8B(NA) variant gets snuck in this patch.

 

They seem to be artfully dodging around implementing a serviceable CAS platform / ordnance the US, even when so many options exist for either unique or otherwise C&P solutions at this point.

Edited December 3, 2022 by tripod2008

[Iron_physik 3,482]

2 minutes ago, tripod2008 said:

At this point the best we can hope for on that front is that the A-6E TRAM gets the AGM-65F

Im here to burst dreams!

AGM-65F was not added until SWIP

[tripod2008 565]

3 minutes ago, Iron_physik said:

Im here to burst dreams!

AGM-65F was not added until SWIP

The fact that there won't be a tech tree A-6 "this patch" only drives the knife in further.

[Cairn_67 537]

56 minutes ago, spacenavy90 said:

 

No, the F-16 was designed initially to be a lightweight, cheap, pure close-range dogfighter. It wasn't until the F-16C blocks that BVR and precision guided munitions capabilities were added on.

I once read that when the IAF first considered using their F-16As for precision strikes, they didn't bother modifying their Netz to carry GBUs. The F-16As' internal bomb-aiming computer was accurate enough to not justify the expense. The 1981 Iraq reactor raid being one example of the F-16's unguided bombing accuracy.

[Suizu_Aika 59]

Spoiler

Background there's A-6E TRAM (just re-post if you see it already)
Source:Unkown

[spacenavy90 1,399]

Well fellas, its finally here. And it is a block 10.

 

 

 

[ARK_BOI 789]

23 minutes ago, spacenavy90 said:

Well fellas, its finally here. And it is a block 10.

is block 10 can carry only AIM9L because it seems Mig29 can carry R73 and R27T (if i'm not blind)

[spacenavy90 1,399]

3 minutes ago, ARK_BOI said:

is block 10 can carry only AIM9L because it seems Mig29 can carry R73 and R27T (if i'm not blind)

 

Correct, it is impossible to use BVR missiles on the F-16A block 10. It will be stuck with AIM-9L as its top missile.

The MiG-29 has a distinct advantage with both its missiles (R-73 and R-27).

Edited December 8, 2022 by spacenavy90

[WreckingAres283 4,245]

Just now, ARK_BOI said:

it seems Mig29 can carry R73 and R27T (if i'm not blind)

 

Correct

 

R-27Ts:

 

Spoiler

 

R-73 RMD-1:

 

Spoiler

 

F-16A Block 10:

 

Spoiler

 

[Gatsby_WT 133]

It is still possible, that Italy will get block 15 and Taiwan will get block 20 F-16. So far the leak was accurate. If true, at least some of the F-16s can fight MiG-29s at BVR game.

[SXTREME 1,467]

1 hour ago, spacenavy90 said:

Correct, it is impossible to use BVR missiles on the F-16A block 10

 

Air to Ground wise will it be stuck with AGM-65Bs or could it use AGM-65Ds?

[BadOpinionHaver 2,075]

Did the USAF F-16 have flares or no?

[Flame2512 3,347]

So are there any pre-1980 F-16 manuals around. Or is it going to be a massive pain to bug report?

[SXTREME 1,467]

 

31 minutes ago, spacenavy90 said:

 

Stuck with -65B for the Block 10.

 

 

I see GBU 10s and GBU 12s but I am guessing it can't self designate.

Edited December 8, 2022 by SXTREME

[TyphoonCro 6,814]

As I said in rumor roundup topic

Real shame we're not getting the ADF variant that was capable of Sparrows

(Hopefully) More reliable radar that Tomcats but no to utilize that radar

[spacenavy90 1,399]

49 minutes ago, SXTREME said:

 

 

I see GBU 10s and GBU 12s but I am guessing it can't self designate.

 

That is correct. The first USAF F-16 that was equipped with targeting pods was the block 40/42 was the first to use the LANTIRN pod.

ANG Block 30/32 aircraft were later modified to use the Litening pods.

Edited December 9, 2022 by spacenavy90

[shanrocks1 377]

Can the Italian F-16 carry sparrows opposed to only sidewinders and the Chinese F-16 can carry what variant of the sparrow?

[[email protected] 10]

GBU-8

Edited December 9, 2022 by [email protected]