Should we have AIM-120 on Italian F-16ADF/Taiwanese F-16A MLU?

[Stockholm_Blend]

I heard that the Italian F-16A/B rented from the US was some kind of replacement for the Tornado ADV fleet they rented from Britain.
(Military History or diplomatic isn’t my major subject, so I studied a little bit about them, closer to scratched the surface kind of thing, for interests so I might be wrong in facts)

I heard that the Renting of F-16A with [Peace Caesar] program in 2004 was the replacement for Tornado F.3 fleets because the British included CSP(Capability Sustainment Programme) upgrade cost into a “renewed” rental contract, and Italy thought a renewed rental contract was not cost-effective but closer to ripping-off kind of things.
and those ex-USAF F-16A/B took roles of Tornado ADV(Which intended to be a stop-gap for the Italian Air Force till Eurofighter arrives properly because domestic F-104S were outdated badly.)

and Italian used F-16ADF for AIM-120 Carrier.

In the meantime, The Taiwanese F-16A fleet was improved MLU(Mid-Life Upgrade) version (somewhat kind of similar version to the Belgium F-16AM in-game), with better avionics than its American counterparts. and It also was intended to fire AIM-120C in real life. (Well, I don’t know much about ROC or PLAAF so correcting is welcome)

We have both AIM-120A and AAM-4 on Japanese F-15J(M) also known as F-15J Kai(改) despite that the Japanese never operated AIM-120A in their F-15 fleet in real life
(Still, Some guys at ADTW test-fired AIM-120B, and Their F-15J fleets gained the ability to use AIM-120 while they improved them as MSIP standard. also, JASDF bought their AIM-120C. so… we can consider it as semi-historical.)

So Adding AIM-120A/B instead of AIM-120C on F-16A MLU can be fine maybe.

Anyway, Will Adding AIM-120 loadout on those Italian and Taiwanese F-16 be an interesting option?

unlike the American branch which has F-16C as an AMRAAM-firing F-16, the Italy and China branches don’t have any F-16 which can fire AIM-120 in-game, and saw many Chinese guys tear their hair out from their heads thanks to the J-11A, which has worse performing avionics than Soviet-Russian relatives. (of course, it performs worse than its western counterparts too.)

I think adding AIM-120 on those planes can be an interesting option for Italy-Main or Chinese-Enjoyer.
What about you guys think about it?

[YaSen]

Italian ADF should get both AIM-120 and AIM-9L/I-1 (Or AIM-9M), with br increase if needed. Italian ADFs during the upgrade lost the equipment needed to operate Sparrows, so it isn’t only historically incorrect, but also technically not possible (unlike AIM-9J for F-104S for example). Despite that this will bring the Italian top jet option, apart from Hungarian Gripen. Idk about F-16MLU for China, but if irl it was ARH carrier, I don’t see the reason not to add it, plus it’s also an end of line jet.

[VikernesVarg]

Its a good idea so long as something new can replace the resulting gap in BR when they get uptiered for having the AIM-120. Italy could receive the F-16B as was suggested, with only AIM-9M/7F. For China, they can also get either an earlier block F-16, or a Mirage 2000 variant (I know they had one just dont know the specific model), or better yet, the unique FCK1 that should be in game by now

[AlvisWisla]

13.7 F-16 As aren’t something most players are interested in.
Why 60 countermeasures when you can BOL pods with Gripen?

[YaSen]

It gets 2 more AIM-120 compared to Hungarian Gripen, though it doesn’t even need to be better than jets already represented in TT. Many Italian aviation enthusiasts are also just more interested in the jet which was used by their Air Force and would love to see it having its actual weapons, I’ve seen a lot of requests about that on forum.
There is also nothing wrong with having more ARH equipped options, for example USA has F-16C, F-15C and AV-8B+, would it be better to limit F-16C to SARH? I don’t think so.

[oom1992]

In my opinion, 6x AIM-9M sidewinder & 2x AIM-7M replace by AIM-9L/I-1 & 6x AIM-120B. and increase BR to 13.3

@VikernesVarg

Italy could receive the F-16B as was suggested

I saw italy F-16B suggestion last year but limited IR AAM only like F-16A Block 10 from USAF

@VikernesVarg

FCK1

F-CK-1A would be 13.3 after F-16A Block 20 MLU but before F-CK-1C and F-16A Block 20 MLU (late)

@YaSen

Idk about F-16MLU for China,

I predict F-16A MLU for china tech tree would be early batch before integrated AIM-120C, Paveway II laser guided bomb and LANTIRN (Sharpshooter & Pathfinder)

F-16A Block 20 MLU late batch full AIM-120 AMRAAM, guidance Air-to-Ground armament and LANTIRN capabilities

ROCAF F-16A Block 20 Fighting Falcon Late Service - "Fenghuang's Flames"

poll poll poll ROCAF F-16A Block 20 Fighting Falcon - Late Service [860x394] A lot of this suggestion is copied from the old forum suggestion, as the “Late” variant is almost identical in characteristics and performance. The “Late” variant would represent a massive capability upgrade for the ROCAF air line, and greatly bolster the Chinese Air Tree, in a similar way to the F-16AM Block 15 MLU in the Belgian subtree. A true representation of the Block 20’s combat capability in war thunder would …

[AlvisWisla]

2 more over 4 means nothing when it’s diminishing returns.
Italy also has Typhoon around the corner.
And China has FCK-1, J-10, J-15, and others.

[actualsize123]

The uptiered them and created a gap in the br’s anyway so it doesn’t really matter anymore.

[actualsize123]

Oh boy an identical unfoldered plane to research to get the correct loadout instead of just giving the first one the right loadout. Sure was fun when they did that in Sweden and Britain.

[YaSen]

@AlvisWisla

Italy also has Typhoon around the corner.

Doesn’t change anything regarding F-16ADF. Also there is no indication of Typhoon coming so far.

[hypilot]

The Taiwanese F-16 will hopefully get corrected with all its features once the F-CK-1A comes. It’ll be a good in between from the F-5 to the F-16.

[AlvisWisla]

F-15C MSIP II is the indication, a gen 4.5 jet that’s equivalent to Typhoon in BVR.

[YaSen]

It’s just a guess, I would wait for official announcement or at least datamine, so far @Smin1080p_WT has answered that it’s too soon for Eurofighter.

[AlvisWisla]

That answer was last year, and months before last major update.

[oom1992]

@hypilot

with all its features once the F-CK-1A comes

I guess F-CK-1A would be 13.3 BR

@hypilot

between from the F-5 to the F-16.

Fill gap between F-CK-1A & F-16A MLU (early batch) but before F-CK-1C and F-16A Block 20 MLU (late)

[Tuurngait]

It means anything

[oom1992]

@AlvisWisla

F-15C MSIP II is the indication

F-15C MSIP II from USA tech tree in early 2000’s

@AlvisWisla

a gen 4.5 jet that’s equivalent to Typhoon in BVR.

EF-2000 Tranche 1 Blk 5 from germany & italy and Typhoon IPA.6 from Royal Air Force better F-15C MSIP II (USAF) and F-15C Baz Meshupar (IAF), especially WVRAAM & BVRAAM and maneuvrability

@YaSen

has answered that it’s too soon for Eurofighter.

Gajin introduced rank 9 (IX) before 4+ gen fighter aircraft with PESA radar ?

[AlvisWisla]

Typhoons use AIM-120s just like F-15.
And they use AIM-9Li/M just like F-15.

All they do more that would matter if War Thunder wasn’t BVR and boom & zoom meta right now is dogfight.

[oom1992]

@AlvisWisla

Typhoons use AIM-120s just like F-15.

I don’t know EF-2000 T1 Blk 5, Typhoon F.2 and Typhoon IPA.6 with carries 6 or 8 AIM-120 AMRAAM

@AlvisWisla

And they use AIM-9Li/M just like F-15.

EF-2000 T1 Blk 5, Typhoon F.2 and Typhoon IPA.6 already armed 5th gen IR AAM

But I assume F-15C MSIP II from USA tech tree before integrated AIM9X

[AlvisWisla]

Later on Typhoons were equipped with IRIS-T, the “5th gen” IR AAM.
However, they were all initially equipped with AIM-9s.
Britain used their ASRAAM which is allegedly R-73 equivalent.