Hi all, I wanted to discuss whether the American F-16C Block 50 should receive the GBU-53B Stormbreaker now that the F-16I SUFA has received SPICE-250.
The following brochure shows a variety of American vehicles are compatible, but I am not sure of which specific variants. I would not be surprised if we needed a F-16C Block 50/52+ PoBIT or F-15E RMP to get these onto American aircraft in game.
Raytheon GBU-53/B SDB II Small Diameter Bomb Increment II
It is also worth noting I am aware of the number of GBUs that can be mounted on the F-15E (28x), so I would not be surprised if the F-15E did not receive these bombs for a while. The main focus here is the F-16C. This is safely assumed to be the reason why only the F-16I SUFA received SPICE-250s and the F-15I Ra’am did not.
Reminder to please remain respectful in discussions. No one is interested in anyone else’s national pride or anger against other nations. Please be chill.
Yeah it’s quite BS US F-16s are getting such horrid treatment, no PIDS pylons, no GBU-53, no inner pylon twin bomb carriage, no AIM-120C, no laser JDAM, like why?
Heck, this should apply to any aircraft using GBU-39s as well full stop, would be a fantastic large scale buff to a lot of nations in one fell swoop, and with the amount of high end SAMs now arriving I see now reason why the GBU-53 should not be on the table for all GBU-39 users.
As far as I am aware, on aircraft already sporting the BRU-61/A, the only change required is a software update, same case for the JAGM-F as the BRU-61/A handles all mounting concerns.
still, there could be difference in US and foreign aircraft softwares that could make it not work. Gripen for example, with F-16’s there could still be software differences compared to USAF/ANG ones but its more plausible
the only aircraft we know for sure can use GBU-53 are USAF F-16’s, USAF F-15E’s (and probably EX due to commonalities and UAI), USN F/A-18, and F-35A/B/C
Should abide by MIL-STD-1760 so such would be irrelevant, that is, if the party is in NATO.
If the GBU-53’s software is built to MIL-STD-1760 standards, which it should be as the BRU-61/A and every other modern smart munition mount in NATO’s arsenal follows such, there should be no issues incorporating the system regardless of the airframe. The only limitation would be if the aircraft lacks hardpoints wired to MIL-STD-1760 standards, and if the plane already sports the GBU-39 / BRU-61/A that should not be a issue as such requires MIL-STD-1760 compatible hardpoints.
The limiting factor moreso would be crew training, which your post just now is what the Polish F-16s would be getting the captive 53s for.
fair enough. still, i think it would be nice to not have nearly every nation ingame freeloading off American weapons for once, for the sake of uniqueness. the only widespead aircraft that should have GBU-53 everywhere is the F-35.
in the end though these software updates havent happened or havent been made yet
Tbh, for most modern arms like the 53 thats just how the cookie crumbles, everyone likes US weapons and ends up buying them.
I agree with the sentiment though, I do want to see more unique US made weapons, and frankly there are a ton that are truly unique that gaijin has just not been interested in adding, especially earlier on in the tree. (AIM-95 and so on)
As long as they are limited to the same guidance method and a similar range to the SPICE 250s then yes, I agree, it would be a nice addition for a SELECT US top tier CAS jet, I don’t think it should be rolled out on all of them at once, anyways the missile is in the files iirc so they can add it whenever
