isayyo2
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It's not a term I've really noticed until this year in publications, though it's been used internally by the Air Force for a few years or more.Welcome news. The article really bugs me though. "Pre-block"? Do they mean early block? AIUI all production F-16s were members of one block or another. Surely the only pre-block F-16 would be the YF-16?JASSM fully integrated on USAF Block 30 F-16s
"Pre-block" seems to be the shorthand USAF is using for the surviving Block 15, 25, and 30 aircraft, as opposed to "late block" referring to Block 40 and subsequent models.
F-16s Could Still be Flying Into the 2070s | Air & Space Forces Magazine
The F-16’s sunset years now could come in the 2070s, or later, based on Lockheed Martin’s backlog of F-16 orders and planned upgrades.www.airforcemag.com
Post Block: Block 40/42 and 50/52 F-16s that have gone through CCIP ~600 in service
- Also to note is that the "Post Block" fleet is planned to go through a massive modernization to extend their service through 2040
- The Block 25s should be out of frontline service by 2026 with some still serving in training and testing squadrons
- Unsure when the Block 30/32 will be out of frontline service, they're still receiving a lot of love with "Software Capability Upgrades"
- The Navy is receiving Block 25 and Block 32s for adversary work, the Navy's "new" F-16s will go under a comprehensive airframe life extension and receive the APG-83 radar. So clearly the older models will still be sticking around for some time...