Is that a new plane or you meant F-16XL?
Does US even use F-16E? I though only UAE used F-16E
New missile won’t fix anything if they are also nerfed
What new missiles would you like to see?
Wooden missiles and stone ammo for NATO so the russia can bright even more 😆
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On February 28, 2022, the United States Air Force Life Cycle Management Center announced 22 major modifications to the existing F-16 fighter jets, aimed at significantly enhancing the aircraft’s modern combat capabilities. As the largest upgrade and improvement program for the fighter in recent years, the U.S. Air Force has allocated $6.3 billion for this initiative. The core components of the plan include: installing more advanced APG-83 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars; upgrading to the newer Link-16 data link; replacing with more advanced onboard computer systems to improve computing and information processing capabilities; equipping with more advanced “Sniper” Advanced Targeting Pods to enhance target acquisition capabilities; and expanding weapon-carrying capacities, including the ability to mount AIM-120D advanced air-to-air missiles and launch AGM-158B “Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER)” missiles.
Based on this information, I believe the United States Air Force is equipped with F-16s that are at least at the Block 72 or Block 80 level.
I know about that. F-16 block 50/52 and block 40/42 are being upgraded to block 70/72 standard as they did not buy any new block 70/72. IIRC F-16E is different then F-16V with F-16E being block 60 iirc and USAF does not use it and only UAE uses F-16E (i could be wrong on who uses it or not but i am 100% sure UAE does use it)
F-16V
F-16E
The big noticeable difference is the built in IRST in F-16E
I’m kinda looking forward to the F-16V more than E variant.
For V you get a new AESA radar and reduced weight thanks to the radar and avionics replacement.
For E you get a AESA radar stronger than the one on V, but also a additional set of cooling system in the dorso spine. Though the uprated engine makes up for the increased weight, the wingloading is still way higher and ITR much worse.
Even if they add F-16E it would most likely be a prem. Also F-16E would get built in IRST and F-16V would have to use external pod though. Even I would chose F-16V over F-16E for the reason that you stated
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Regardless, while the U.S. Air Force may not have ever operated the F-16E, considering that the Soviet tech tree includes never-fielded vehicles like the M53/59, I believe the same rationale could justify adding it to the U.S. tech tree. After all, this is also what the administrators have stated.
In short, introducing any variant of the F-16 would address the urgent needs of the U.S. air tech tree. Currently, the U.S. air forces are too weak to compete against aircraft like the Su-30SM, let alone the fictional Su-30SM2 in the game.
From what i could find M53/59 was used by Czechoslovak military and is also under then flag of Czechoslovakia and not USSR flag even if it is placed in the TT. IIRC Czechoslovakia is not even supposed to be a Russian sub tree so idk why they even added it in the first place. Yes they can use the same justification to add F-16E to the US (F-16E was developed by Lockheed Martin and hence should go to the nation through which it originated from if no subtree of UAE is added )and it would most likely go to US as a prem unless some certain nation main start to beg for it which honestly i can see happening
The screen shot that you applied was for KH-38 for Malaysian SU-30 which never used them. Plane and weapon are very different from each other so you cannot use that logic here. Though through that you could argue for American F-35 to get meteors as well whenever F-35 is added to game
F-16A and F-16C both have very good flight model and adding a new F-16 with aesa radar would be good. However even with a strong FM it would still not be able to challenge SU-30SM2 due to AMRAAMS. If they fix AMRAAMS and add new F-16 it would at least be able to compete against rafale (Both will have good FM and missile. Both planes would be missing that insane scan area like Eurofighter, SU-30SM2 and Gripen has thats why i am comparing it to rafale)
However US has an option for F-16V instead of F-16E which they actually use, so i could see gaijin add F-16V first and then F-16E after it as a prem.
Maby aim-174b or AIM-120D
Do you think AIM-174B has a place in the game at the moment?
Also, if they never added better missiles (in the form of AIM-120) to the Tornado F3 when there were planes with better airframe and better missiles, then I don’t think its fair to start doing so just for the US only.
Tornado F3 had to use SuperTEMP against F-15/F-16s with AIM-7Fs.
J-8F similarly had to use mediocre PL-11s when it could have used two PL-12s.
The AIM-174B is a missile designed specifically for the F/A-18E. If the US air defense tree needs to be rebalanced, these are the missiles we should introduce. They will be available only on one aircraft.
In general, it would be best to introduce the F-15EX, and it will be a powerful replacement for the outdated F-15E.
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It is a part of a class of missile that is on par with the R-37M, Meteor, and etc.
Gaijin has had a practice of only introducing new class of missiles to everyone equally, rather than just the AIM-174B for only the F/A-18E. And if this happen, then things will be even worse for the F/A-18E as it will carry just 4 AIM-174B foregoing lots of AMRAAMs, while everyone else get similar missiles but more/same amount while also being able to carry more missiles in general.
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But you think its gonna change anything if they add it with 9m/120c? 🫣
Have they introduced the Kh-38MT-class missiles to everyone? Have they introduced the Pantsir S1 to everyone? Have they introduced the KH-59 to everyone? Or the Vikhr-class missiles? Have they introduced Relikt-class armor to everyone, or the new 260-degree radar to everyone?
They have already added them.
Are we simply talking about balance or who has the most missiles? Russia has a strong flanker with 14 missiles, the best radar in the game, and the best maneuverability.
The missiles have beyond visual range abilities, and the aircraft is extremely maneuverable, allowing for victories over early MiG 29s, SU-25’s and SU-27s
But which one? Im more of a D fan myself