Pakistan receiving alot more F-16s than ordered: AFM

[M.ASIF AMIN]

HELLO ALL
Yes Pakistan strongly requested for AESA-APG 80 radar for its blk 52 F-16 but pakistani APG-68V9 also in production .pakistan want & continue struglge for APG-80 radar

 

[fatman17]

Now we know why the USN is reluctant to re-lease the ex-PAF F-16s which were embargoed....

(T)F-16N
F-16 for the US Navy

In the mid-eighties, the USNavy was eagerly seeking a replacement for its agressor training aircraft. Both the F-5 and A-4 were in service at the time. The Navy found that these aircraft were not longer to their satisfaction in forfilling this task. These aircraft lacked the latest avionics developments and they were becomming obsolete very soon, with extensive maintenance being required. Also the lack of a high maneuverable and fast jet aircraft to performe this agressor training was felt very badly. A decision was taken to develop a customised version of the F-16 te fill this gap.

Structure & Avionics

US Navy agressor F-16N. (LMTAS photo)
The F-16N is based on the standard F-16C/D block 30 and is powered by the General Electric F110-GE-100 engine. However, the F-16N has a strengthened wing and is capable of carrying an Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) pod on the starboard wingtip.

The ACMI pod allows details of air-to-air engagements to be transmitted to a ground station. Although the (T)F-16N's are based on the early-production small-inlet Block 30 F-16C/D airframe, they retain the APG-66 radar of the F-16A/B. However, they have no cannon or ASPJ and carry no missiles. Their EW fit consists of an ALR-69 radar warning receiver (RWR) and an ALE-40 chaff/flare dispenser. The (T)F-16N's have the standard Air Force tailhook and undercarriage, and are definitely NOT carrier capable.

Production
Production totalled 26 airframes of which 22 are singel-seat F-16N's and 4 are double-seat TF-16N's. The aircraft were in service between 1988 and 1998. At that time hair cracks were discovered in several bulckheads. The Navy didn't have the resources to replace them, so the aircraft were placed into storage at AMARC, ultimately being replaced by embargoed ex-Pakistani F-16s in 2003.


Specifications
Engine: One General Electric F110-GE-100 turbofan, rated at 17,155 lb.s.t. dry and 28,984 lb.s.t. with afterburning.

Performance: Maximum short-endurance speed: Mach 2.02 (1333 mph) at 40,000 feet. Maximum sustained speed Mach 1.89 (1247 mph) at 40,000 feet.


Dimensions: wingspan 31 feet 0 inches, length 49 feet 4 inches, height 16 feet 8 1/2 inches, wing area 300 square feet.

Weights: under 18,000 pounds empty, under 40,000 pounds maximum takeoff.

 

[fatman17]

Do we know if this news has materialised....

JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY - APRIL 21, 2004

Chinese missile may be for Pakistan's F-16s
ROBERT HEWSON Editor Jane's Air-Launched Weapons
Bangkok

China is about to bring a second beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile (AAM) to the export market. The new weapon, to be known as the FD-60, is already in service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force as the PL-11.

In China it equips the Shen- yang J-8II 'Finback' interceptor but, according to the manufacturer, the export version is intended for the F-16 - a clear signal that Pakistan could be the lead customer.

Development of the FD-60 (PL-11) began in 1987 and was completed in 2000, according to the China National Precision Machinery Import & Export Corporation (CPMIEC). The weapon is described as an air-launched version of the LY-60 surface-to-air missile. It uses semi-active radar homing and has a range of 20-25km.

The missile borrows heavily from Aspide technology supplied by Italy before an arms embargo was imposed on China following the Tiananmen Square massacre.

China also had access to early-model US-built AIM-7 Sparrow missiles acquired via Vietnam, from which the Aspide itself is derived. Since the late 1980s Chinese technicians have been developing a Sparrow-class missile that led to the LY-60 and FD-60 weapons.

Until now most observers had assessed the PL-11/FD-60 programme as a largely unsuccessful effort that had been overtaken by the more advanced PL-12/SD-10 active-radar AAM, developed under the leadership of the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corp (CATIC). However, it now appears that work on the PL-11/FD-60 has continued, perhaps to provide a back-up capability in the event of problems with the PL-12/SD-10 but also because CPMIEC has identified an export market for the missile.

As the FD-60 is based largely on the Aspide/Sparrow design, integrating it with US-built aircraft should be relatively straightforward. Such a missile would be of great interest to existing customers of Chinese equipment, such as Pakistan and Iran, that have inventories of US fighters for which they cannot obtain advanced weapons - chiefly BVR missiles.

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is already working on acquiring a BVR combat capability through the SD-10 and JF-17 Thunder (CATIC FC-1 fighter) combination. However, the opportunity to add a BVR AAM to its inventory much sooner (via the F-16) would surely be seized by the PAF command, which has already identified such weapons as one of its highest acquisition priorities.

 

[circuitbaba]

Thus in short if US does not sell AMRAAm C-5...for any reason ( although very disturbing if it happens)...we have an alternative BVR for our F-16 thats good news.....atleast our current F-16 will be able to take on Mirage 2000 as it caries the Super 530 BVR which has similar range....the radars can also be replaced with grifo2000 which is chip by chip replacement of APG-66 ....ie if US changes its mind

 

[kashifpso]

CAN ANY ONE TELL ME THAT WHAT AFM STANDS FOR?

 

[Neo]

Air Forces Monthly is a military aviation magazine published by Key Publishing, based in Stanford, United Kingdom.