yeah so far ive only seen conformal fuel tanks on the test bed F-16 and not on a live combat ready F-16. however ive seen a bunch of photos of the USs F/A-18Es with conformal fuel tanks
edit: as soon as i send that i find this image
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3 fuel tanks and CFTs?
Where are they sending that jet? To the moon?
The article is referencing the Block 50/52+ variants from the early 2000s, not the original Block 50/52 built for the US in the 90’s.
The US has never operated any F-16s that are able to use CFTs in a combat capacity.
Interesting, it even has IRIS-T missiles on the wings.
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The question at hand was:
“but is this F-16 able to use the conformal fuel tanks similar to the Sufa or was that not included with the PoBIT upgrade?”
So my answer is factually correct. If the US used it or not is a different question altogether. They CAN use it. If gaijin wanted to add it they would.
No, like I said, US F-16s CANNOT use CFTs.
The US F-16s simply lack the structural reinforcement the Block 50/52+ and later models have.
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Even after the SLEP structural changes? Dang
Yeah, from what I’ve been able to find SLEP does add some reinforcement, but doesn’t appear to have all of the modifications outlined in that PDF.
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When you have a global refueling fleet your jets probably don’t need CFTs for sorties.
USA mains fell for it again.
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I don’t know gajin ready the Republic of China Air Force F-16AM (upgrade F-16A Block 20 MLU to Block 70/72 standard) for the second or final major update this year
The new Block III’s do actually retain the capability for these in USN service. IIRC Australia is planning on buying some Block III’s with the CFT’s too. The USN just doesn’t use them because of issues with them when landing on carriers but they do still keep the plumbing for them just incase.
Wow, 600gal fuel tanks
yea a lot of systems would also automaticly filter these out as you propably dont want to shoot down a bird with a buk or something tho is would be configurable proly
F-18F looks even more prettier then with CFT
Wait. I thought they bought block 70 instead of upgrading their block 20. Did they do both or only upgraded their block 20?
Edit: They did both.
No, that is only a feature of actual new Block 60-70 and 50/52+ which is different from the US uses.
untill 2004
This is true
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We want to focus on the state of the American Top-tier this update.