there could very well be USAF operated testbed F-16E we could get, like there was F-15SA/QA in use by USAF, if not the actual F-16E since who else would it go to? israelis have the F-16I, and we made the F-16E
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Sure, but we have to go with precedent. Has Gaijin ever added a US plane to the tech tree that the US never used?
F-14A IRIAF modification
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To be fair, I meant in the regular tech tree, not as event/premium or whatever.
They’ve done it to plenty of other nations, so there is a precedent for it, actually.
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Obviously the US is not “other nations”. There’s a reason for why they haven’t done it for the US, which is largely because there’s other options compared to other nations where the export aircraft is the only option.
well, since UK gets F-111C in tech tree, and australia has been confirmed not a subtree, same could happen to US with F-16E
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The F-16E is a fully indigenous fighter. There is no reason under any circumstances for why something else should come in its place.
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US isn’t UK, two different tech trees with different options and precedents/history. Australia was a literal British colony. UAE was never a US colony.
UAE has defense and economic ties to US though, especially in this case. M1A1 AIM is in US after all (as it should be)
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https://www.f-16.net/aircraft-database/F-16/airframe-profile/4508
proof US had F-16E block 60
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There’s no reason? At all? Like perhaps other reasons such as aircrafts actively in US service and could fill the same gap?
F-16V or C far too advanced, 2010s US AESA radar, technologically F-16E is more reasonable for the game right now. 1st gen AESA vs rafale 1st gen AESA fairer than 2nd or 3rd gen AESA on F-16C/V
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A former colony is vastly different to having defense and economic ties. Many countries have defense and economic ties with each other, means almost nothing.
I don’t disagree that the US “tested” it. They test many different aircrafts before they export it. The mere fact that they exported it, means they had the aircraft in their possession for some amount of time.
At the end of the day though, it makes no sense to wish for something that has not been a part of Gaijin’s playbook when it comes to the US tech tree unless you’re asking for the F-16E as an event/premium vehicle.
if you look at the list, Gripen E, F-2A, Mig-35, J-11B, J-10B, all of them are active aircrafts actively used in the tech trees they were proposed to go in.
Okay so add Block 52 with AESA and new engine?
Block 52 is just a block 50 with PW-229. the US made the APG-80 specifically for the F-16E, would have to be an APG-83 which would beat everything in the game by a lot.
also, the 2 in 52 means its equipped with a pratt & whitney engine, the “new engine” is a General Electric, so it is even more impossible
your request is more unreasonable and unrealistic than just adding an F-16E to the US
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But in return it would lack the flight model of other Gen 4.5s, maws, LWS, spherical RWR, IRST, and probably other things I can’t think of currently. That’s more than a fair trade.
might actually have a MAWS with the other avionics upgrades, i know it has full modern RWR, it can get IRST in form of Legion Pod which again, will probably be the best IRST in game if added now.
F-16E would be much more even addition imo, it would have a better radar, but not by a ton, and would have a closer FM due to greater thrust, i dont know about MAWS or spherical RWR, but it does have an integrated IRST
Not at all. This is quite a take. The Legion Pod can’t provide ranging, or fire-control ability by itself when mounted on an aircraft currently. The IRST on Rafale and Eurofighter can however. The Legion Pod currently requires datalink with another IRST on another aircraft in order for 3D ranging to be acquired which is necessary to figure out the distance and position of a target.
Legion Infrared Search And Track Pods Can Now Carry Their Own Datalinks For More Lethal Targeting
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Might, so you’re not even sure.