Afaik they were launch tests to see if the landing gear hardpoints would allow for a launch, and not actually guided to target.
Yes, they are very similar, but differences are still there.
The AJ was shown to have a Block 10 airframe, but with minor visual aspects from the YF-16s appearance as well.
No version did go to Japan. Japan was only ever presented with one YF-16A that they observed from an F-4 while a US pilot showed off the F-16.
I don’t know which of the two was presented, but only 01568 tested sparrows, so it’s either all or nothing for capability.
Though the outer wing and wingtip hardpoints weren’t received well, so likely AJ would’ve been limited to the inner wing hardpoints and thelanding gear ones, which would match the F-15s loadout the proposal was competing with.
18 Thai F-16A OCUs were upgraded as part of Thai (e)MLU program.
This article suggests that all of these were upgraded to (e)MLU standard and the phases of the upgrade were only batches of 6 aircraft being upgraded rather than stages of modernization.
(Which would also mean I made a mistake calling Thai MLU a separate upgrade when it is not)
This would also mean the OCUs couldn’t carry AMRAAM until (e)MLU. Depending on what Gaijin does this could mean AMRAAM are removed, or that we might get it changed to proper (e)MLU.
Fingers crossed it will be changed to (e)MLU. Because if it becomes (e)MLU, we will be able to use Sniper XR (which is too advanced and will be Lightning)
From what I understand, mounting AMRAAM on OCU should be impossible due to its radar, yet, in the image from the RTAF Photobook, Wing 103th’s F-16 OCU being mounted with AMRAAM could be seen there.
Nvm, 103rd wing has been using at least some ADFs since 2021
(e)MLU has it added flush onto the nose, with the individual “blades” of the IFF sticking out less as well. This is an (e)MLU
Thailand also received 7 OCUs from Singapore (3 single seat As and 4 twin seat Bs), these have a block 30 and can be identified by the brake chute in the tail. This is a former Singaporean OCU
