F-16 Fighting Falcon: History, Performance & Discussion

@k_stepanovich

What’s your opinion on this?

Tech mods say this is not an acceptable source “because it’s not OEM manual”:

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3072483/aesa-radar-launches-f-16-into-next-generation-of-airpower/

https://community.gaijin.net/issues/p/warthunder/i/4UaIpjjUKRtR

Two secondary sources are required, you only posted one. Find a second source.

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But it doesnt say what version of APG-68. The V7 on the blk 50 might be able to track up to 6 targets.

Also it doesnt say whether the radar is using TWS mode or not.

How do you target two tracks without TWS?

That’s irrelevant
Do you have a source that there is a difference in datalink channels between various revisions of the APG-68?

Plus, this is coming from the pilot and commander of one of the most important units that operate the F-16C …

And he makes a very big point out of this limitation and how this was remedied by upgrading the planes with AESA radars …

In DCS F-16 has something named Dual Target Track

Either way as this is pointed out and made a big deal of as a limitation of the radar set, it shouldn’t be able to engage more than two targets at the same time, regardless of the mode.

Anyone know why the Thai F-16 has AGM-65 on the inner pylons? Where did the devs pull that from?

Because the Thai F16s have been seen with it

Some double standards imho. Planes like grippens, ef, made equal for balance, but all F-16s are different.

These pylons don’t really matter it just allows the use of more missiles when carrying two Maverick and compared to the other F16s of the same BR it is the worst

According to this doccument the APG-68 can track up to 10 targets in TWS mode for AMRAAM deployment. But im not sure which version of APG-68 they are refering to. Its probably the First version of APG-68 due to the wording in the doccument and how they give no specifics on which version.
image
https://www.f-16.net/forum/download/file.php?id=42491

Being able to track 10 targets in TWS mode is not the same thing as guiding weapons on them.

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The whole point of TWS is to deploy fox-3s so why would you be able to only deploy 2 when that doc says 10. The radar isnt in STT mode.

Even this Doc says 10


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The datalink might be the limitation. N001VEP can track at least 10, but provide updates for only 2 targets, for example.

What doc is this?

Also, the 10 tracked targets with 10 search targets will be a nerf, because IIRC it can currently track more than 10. Wrong, see this.

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It’s not the only one overperforming in this regard, RDY radar can only track 10 as well on the Mirage 2000-5F irl, but can track more than 10 in-game. A bunch of radars should be hammered down in this regard except for perhaps some of the ESA radars ingame.

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Not really
TWS provides additional situational awareness.

Again, 10 TWS tracks doesn’t mean it can target 10 or 6 simultaneously.

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I am suddenly feeling vengeful for Soviet radars. Maybe I should file another report.

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Yeah To deploy Active radar homing missiles

@k_stepanovich

While this document is for APG-83, I think it would make sense to make all PESA and AESA radars in the game behave similarly unless there are documents to prove otherwise for that specific radar set. (Since this capability is a result of the electronic beam steering which is inherently much quicker than mechanical steering).

According to this brochure from Lockheed Martin, APG-83 can keep tracking and updating the TWS tracks, even after they leave the designated scan pattern (as long as they stay within the reach of the electronic beam steering):

https://omnirole-rafale.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/F-16V.pdf