Comparing a Multi role fighter with a heavy air superiority fighter jet simply just does not make any sense to me.
Anyway lets do it.
Radar comparison
As we know F-16c or Block 50/52+ comes with a V(9) version of the AN/APG-68 radar provides both improved air-to-air capabilities and air-to-ground capabilities.
F-16 Radar Features
The AN/APG-68 radar is a long range up to
300 km and a Pulse-doppler radar designed by Westinghouse (now Northrop Grumman) to replace AN/APG-66 radar in the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The AN/APG-68 radar system consists of the following line-replaceable units:
Antenna
Dual Mode Transmitter (DMT)
Modular Low-power radio frequency (MLPRF)
Programmable signal processor (PSP)
The AN/APG-68(V)9 radar is the latest development. Besides the increase in scan range compared to the previous version, it has a Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) capability.
Benefits
30 percent increase in detection range.
Improvements in false alarm rate and mutual interference;
Four versus two tracked targets in the Situation Awareness mode (a search-while-track mode)
Larger search volume and improved track performance in Track While Scan mode.
Improved track performance in Single Target Track mode;
Two-foot resolution in new Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) mode, which allows autonomous delivery of precision, all-weather, standoff weapons
Increased detection range in Sea Surveillance mode;
Improved target detection and map quality in Ground Moving Target Indication mode.
Su-30mki radar
The forward facing NIIP N011M Bars (Panther) is a powerful integrated passive electronically scanned array radar. The N011M is a digital multi-mode dual frequency band radar.The N011M can function in air-to-air and air-to-land/sea mode simultaneously while being tied into a high-precision laser-inertial or GPS navigation system. It is equipped with a modern digital weapons control system as well as anti-jamming features. N011M has a 350 km search range and a maximum 200 km tracking range, and 60 km in the rear hemisphere. The radar can track 15 air targets and engage 4 simultaneously. These targets can even include cruise missiles and motionless helicopters. The Su-30MKI can function as a mini-AWACS as a director or command post for other aircraft. The target co-ordinates can be transferred automatically to at least four other aircraft. The radar can detect ground targets such as tanks at 4050 km.
F-16 Engine:
One Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 turbofan, rated at 17,000 lb.s.t. dry and 28,500 lb.s.t. with afterburning or one General Electric F110-GE-129 turbofan, rated at 17,155 lb.s.t. dry and 28,984 lb.s.t. with afterburning.
Performance:
Maximum short-endurance speed: Mach 2.05 (1353 mph) at 40,000 feet. Maximum sustained speed Mach 1.89 (1247 mph) at 40,000 feet. Tactical radius (hi-lo-hi interdiction on internal fuel with six 500-lb bombs) 360 miles. Maximum ferry range
2450 miles with maximum external fuel (excluding 600gal. tanks or CFT's)
Dogfight capability.
F-16 is meant is the most successful dog fighter ever created it has over a 100 kills without sustaining a single loss ( About 30 of them are from PAF
)
This video speaks for itself that nothing matches the Viper in a dogfight specially when we take Block 52's Joint helmet mounted cuing system or JHMCS which is simply a look at shoot at capability to fire its infrared guided missiles so the Viper would not need TVC
.
http://www.patricksaviation.com/videos/KWSN-
Men/339/
Introduction video
YouTube - PAF F-16 Block 50-52+ The Ultimate killing machine
F-16 Block 52+ Cockpit.
VS
SU30 Mki cockpit.
F16 B-52 A2A missiles
Air-to-air missiles:
2× AIM-7 Sparrow
6× AIM-9 Sidewinder
6× IRIS-T or
6× AIM-120D AMRAAM Range 130+
miles!!!!
SU-30 A2A missiles
Air to Air Missiles:
10 × R-77 (AA-12) active radar homing medium range AAM, 100 km
10 × Astra missile active radar homing medium range AAM, 80 km
6 × R-27P (AA-10C) semi-active radar guided, long range AAM
130 km There is a difference between Miles and Kms isn't it??
6 × R-27P (AA-10D) Infrared homing extended range version, long range AAM 120 km
2 × R-27R/AA-10A semi-active radar guided, medium range AAM,80 km
2 × R-27T (AA-10B) infrared homing seeker, medium range AAM, 70 km
6 × R-73 (AA-11) short range AAM, 30 km
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So my conclusion is that Tough SU-30 is a whole different class of fighter tough it is Twin engine , Dual cockpit and it can carry a hell load of weapons and has a greater range.
In a BVR fight F-16 Block 52+ with a range of 300kms and SAAB Erie AWACS and AIM-120D will shoot down an SU-30 way before.
But the issue is Pakistan has ordered a AIM-120C variant which has a range of only 105km so Pakistan must buy a D variant or it " could " be on our order already.
In a dogfight.
PAF pilots is one of the Most experienced air forces which has used F-16 . Over 30+ years of Pilot experience with Vipers mean something!!
Su-30 is highly maneuverable but F-16 can beat its TVC advantage by smart electronics and Infrared guided weapons and not to forget JHMCS.
Regards:
