The F-16C is regarded as one of the most successful 4th gen aircraft being used by numerous nations all over the world with numbers built in the few thousands. Despite it’s success one thing was lacking, stealth (low observability). And thus the USAF started work on a set of upgrades to give the Viper some stealth features, this set of upgrades would later be known as “Have Glass”.
As a disclaimer whilst featuring stealth features like RAM it falls more into the category of low observability.
History
In the 1960’s a program would be started to find a air superiority fighter that could overcome the challenges faced by fighter pilots during the Vietnam War, this would become known as the Lightweight Fighter Program, also known as the Fighter Mafia. Multiple proposals for the Air Forces next fighter aircraft were made, the most notable being the YF-16 by General Dynamics, and the YF-17 by Northrop. In 1975 after multiple tests and careful consideration, the YF-16 was chosen and would be developed into the F-16 we know today.
The current F-16C (Block 50) would enter service by late 1991 and would bring in many upgrades from the Block 40’s before it. Some of which included improved engines, more advanced avionics and the ability to carry new and improved weapons.
The stealth upgrades was started with Dutch F-16A’s back in 1986 which included a thin indium-tin-oxide film that was placed onto the canopy glass similarly to how sunglasses are tinted. This film would reflective some radar frequencies which tended to hid the pilot and ejection seat from radar systems which helped decrease it’s radar visibility. This first set of upgrade was known as Pacer Bond.
By 2012 the Have Glass upgrades would be applied and used on some US F-16C’s with the introduction of Have Glass V. Have Glass V would reduce the F-16’s RCS by painting the aircraft with a similar Radar Absorbent Material (RAM) paint to that used by the F-35. Whilst no definitive numbers are known, some sources claim that the F-16’s upgraded with Have Glass V have a RCS of roughly 1.2m², compared to non-Have Glass F-16’s with an RCS of 3-5m².
As of 2022 the US F-16 fleet is set to receive upgrades to the same standard of the F-16V Block 70/72 that is being exported to nations around the world through the Post Block Integration Team, PoBIT. It most notably adds the AN/APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR), AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS), AN/ALR-69A(V) Digital RWR, and the Center Display Unit (CDU) for the cockpit.
Specifications
Size
- Length - 15.06m
- Height - 4.9m
- Wingspan - 9.96m
Weight
- Empty weight - 8,673 kg
- Gross weight - 12,120 kg
- Max takeoff weight - 19,187 kg
Powerplant
- 1 x F110-GE-129
Speed
- Max speed at 40,000 (clean) - 2,178kph (Mach 2.05)
- Max speed at sea level - 1,482kph (Mach 1.2)
- Cruise speed - 933kph
RCS
- ~1.2m² (compared to 3-5m² of standard F-16’s)
Armament
Gun
- 20mm M61A1 Vulcan (512 round)
Air to Air
- AIM-9L/M/X Sidewinder
- AIM-120A/B/C/D AMRAAM
- AIM-7M Sparrow
Air to Ground
- AGM-65 Maverick
- AGM-84 Harpoon
- AGM-88 HARM
- AGM-158 JASSM
- GBU-12 Paveway II
- GBU-24 Paveway III
- GBU-39 SDB
- JDAM/LJDAM
- Mark 82/83/84 General Purpose bombs
Avionics
- JHMCS
- Thales Scorpion
- AN/ALE-47 Chaff/Flare Dispensers
- AN/ALE-50 Towed Decoy System
- AN/AAQ-28 LITENING
- AN/AAQ-33 Sniper
- AN/APG-83 SABR AESA Radar
- AN/ALR-69A(V) Digital Radar Warning Receiver (DRWR)
- AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS)
- RAM coating for RCS reduction
Pictures
An F-16CM from the 480th flying after reportedly being fitted with SABR AESA Radar.
F-16CM-40 88-0441, F-16CM-50 91-0396, F-16CM-50 98-0004, F-16CM-50 98-0005 fielding Have Glass schemes sitting ready at Eglin AFB ready for testing SABR before wider integration into the F-16 fleet.
Place in-game
I think the F-16C Have Glass would make a great test for stealth/low RCS at top tier where it will be more effective given the advanced radars and weapons seen at top tier. Other stealth aircraft already in-game such as the F-117 works well for testing stealth abilities in air-to-ground situations but in air battles it doesn’t see any aircraft with effective radars to be effective in evading and thus I believe before we see 5th Gen stealth aircraft we should see something like the F-16C Block 50/52 Have Glass V to test the waters for their inevitable addition in the future.
- Yes
- No
- Tech Tree Vehicle
- Squadron Vehicle
- Event Vehicle
- Premium Vehicle
- I said no
- 13.7
- 14.0
- 14.3
- 14.7
- 15.0+
- I said no
Sources
The National Interest - Did the F-16 Just Go Stealth?
Ket.Aero - Have Glass: Making the F-16 less observable
Wikipedia - General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
Secret Projects - F-16 signature reduction - Have Glass program
The Aviationist - These Images Show A Texas ANG’s F-16C Wearing A Slightly Modified “Have Glass V” Paint Scheme
The Aviationist - Here’s The First Aviano AB’s F-16CM in “Have Glass V” Paint Scheme
The Aviationist - First APG-83 AESA Radar-Equipped Four-Ship Flight Mission for USAF F-16s