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It's an interesting might-have-been because it was so close to a tipping point at which it could have been very successful. But, indeed, USG was not keen, because of the attractions of being able to share F-16 support with allies. Also, by 1984 the F-16's upgrade path to the Block 40/50 was becoming quite solid, making it look low-risk.Had the F-20 succeeded, I suspect many of them would still be around because it would have shared the F-5's secret of eternal youth (that is, there is almost no part in that airframe that cannot be removed and replaced). They would be getting Selex and Elta AESAs and many of them would be serving their second operator.
It's an interesting might-have-been because it was so close to a tipping point at which it could have been very successful. But, indeed, USG was not keen, because of the attractions of being able to share F-16 support with allies. Also, by 1984 the F-16's upgrade path to the Block 40/50 was becoming quite solid, making it look low-risk.
Had the F-20 succeeded, I suspect many of them would still be around because it would have shared the F-5's secret of eternal youth (that is, there is almost no part in that airframe that cannot be removed and replaced). They would be getting Selex and Elta AESAs and many of them would be serving their second operator.
