I remember going up to Hill AFB as a kid when they had an open house specifically to show off their new plane. It did the shortest takeoff I've ever seen an F-16 do and went straight up into the air. Quite a difference from the resident F-4s and F-105s.1978: Delivering the first production F-16 aircraft:
Türkiye – F-16 Aircraft Acquisition and Modernization
Snip.
That red thing is ACMI podF-16, AMRAAM, AIM-9X(?)
It looks like a bad photoshop. Notably the roundel and flag on the guy's jacket.
The Tweet comes up as not found now.
IMHO and IIRC, the original picture shows a F-16 and a pilot from the Royal Danish Air Force.F-16 fighter with Ukrainian Air Force markings?
General consensus seems to be that the markings are photoshopped. Still, I wonder what the origin of this F-16 is?
Block 70 is a single seat "F-16V".
Block 70 is a single seat "F-16V".
Block 72 is a two seat "F-16V".
It used to be that Block X0 and X2 refered to either a GE or PW engine being used?Block 70 is a single seat "F-16V".
Block 72 is a two seat "F-16V".
Shouldn't the two-seater be called the F-16W? Just as the two-seat F-16A was called the F-16B, the two-seat F-16C the F-16D and so on.
It used to be that Block X0 and X2 refered to either a GE or PW engine being used?
"The two variants are identical, except that the Block 70 is powered by a General Electric F110-GE-129 turbofan, while the Block 72 uses a Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-229."Just going by what I see in print.
which contradicts your reference.In September 2017, the US State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale to Bahrain for 19 new-build F-16V and upgrade its 20 existing F-16C/D Block 40 to F-16V standard.
In June 2018, Bahrain finalized its order for 16 new-build F-16V.
18-0001/0010 Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 70
MSN 1601-1610. FMS for Royal Bahraini Air Force
18-0011/0016 Lockheed Martin F-16D Block 70
MSN 1611/1616. FMS for Royal Bahraini Air Force
Are the twin-seat F-16 scheduled to be delivered to Ukraine are "fully-combat-able" ?
This is true of the F-16B and F-16D but I believe some later F-16Ds and newer two-seaters are "missionized" in the sense that the guy in back can perform numerous different roles if required. These would be the models with the dorsal "spine" on the back for carrying additional avionics. On the "normal" two-seaters that rear seat is typically just for an instuctor pilot and has only a rather basic set of controls. When those ones are used in combat I'm sure the back seat would be empty.The twin-seat F-16s are fully combat capable (Otherwise they'd be called TF-16s).
How many were they getting again?? I reckon they will primarily act as "airborne ads", i.e. shoot down cruise missiles and whatnot. They do not pose a credible threat against modernized Flankers(Su-30/34/35S).
The ex-Dutch F-16s can carry AMRAAM, IRIS-T, AIM-9X. LANTIRN, TFR, ECM-pods, Litening, FLIR. AN/APG-66v2 radar. They should be quite a handful to take on. The ex-Danish F-16s can at least handle AMRAAM and AIM-9X - https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/th...-21-growler-tabm-sam.2985/page-10#post-635818They do not pose a credible threat against modernized Flankers(Su-30/34/35S).
They do not pose a credible threat against modernized Flankers(Su-30/34/35S).
How many were they getting again??
Yes, but will AIM-9Xs be delivered to Ukraine ?Ah, no, I'd say they do definitely pose a credible threat and as Arjen has pointed out they can carry a wide range external stores including the AIM-9X and the latest AMRAAMs.
Are they expected to get into dogfights with the Russians? Here are the facts:Ah, no, I'd say they do definitely pose a credible threat and as Arjen has pointed out they can carry a wide range external stores including the AIM-9X and the latest AMRAAMs also from what I understand the Russian pilots training is bit inadequate so I think the Russian airforce will be in for a nasty surprise.
1) The Russians can pose a credible threat to even tactical fighters from a 150 miles away.
2) They have superior situational awareness, they can see you further away than you can see them
3) They possess larger numbers and they also have superior firepower
4) Their aircraft have superior kinematics, meaning the missiles they launch have a better probability of hit, thus increasing their NEZ.
5) They can more easily replace their losses while you can't.
Western support for Ukraine is dwindling and that's a fact.
6) Superior enemy firepower means that you have to commit more resources to protect the ones you already have.
The ex-Dutch F-16s can carry AMRAAM, IRIS-T, AIM-9X. LANTIRN, TFR, ECM-pods, Litening, FLIR. AN/APG-66v2 radar. They should be quite a handful to take on. The ex-Danish F-16s can at least handle AMRAAM and AIM-9X - https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/th...-21-growler-tabm-sam.2985/page-10#post-635818
And another yesterday.Do they? Russia has only a handful of operational Beriev A-50 AEWACS aircraft with one being shutdown last month.
All of that is true but F-16 can carry MALD decoys (which is practically a cruise missile that can augmented its RCS to look like any particular fighter, from F-5 to B-52, some version carry jammer and 2 way datalink). Each F-16 can carry 4-8 MALD decoys depend on whether you want to carry fuel tank or not. These decoys can fly for 920 km at Mach 0.8.Are they expected to get into dogfights with the Russians? Here are the facts:
1) The Russians can pose a credible threat to even tactical fighters from a 150 miles away.
2) They have superior situational awareness, they can see you further away than you can see them
3) They possess larger numbers and they also have superior firepower
4) Their aircraft have superior kinematics, meaning the missiles they launch have a better probability of hit, thus increasing their NEZ.
5) They can more easily replace their losses while you can't. Western support for Ukraine is dwindling and that's a fact.
6) Superior enemy firepower means that you have to commit more resources to protect the ones you already have. Essentially this means that you have to shoot down enemy missiles one way or the other even if you need to engage aircraft also.