F-16XL

[nighthunter]

Too bad the Irish couldn't afford them

[DogfighterZen]

Too bad the Irish couldn't afford them

I don't know how much the XL would cost if it had gone into production but something tells me that Portugal wouldn't be able to afford them either...

[Captain Canada]

Nice one. Love the weapons fit, really suits her.

[Snowtrooper]

Too bad the Irish couldn't afford them

I don't know how much the XL would cost if it had gone into production but something tells me that Portugal wouldn't be able to afford them either...

In whiffverse, financial realities never need to apply, but if one insists, then the explanation is that Military Assistance Program was greatly extended and expanded because reasons? *handwaving intensifies* Perhaps in this case, the Soviet carrier task forces roaming the Atlantic posed a threat (also) to NATO's southwestern flank, so long-range fighters and strike aircraft needed to be deployed to counter that threat? Placing F-16XL's armed with Harpoons to Lajes AFB in the Azores and Porto Santo on Madeira would go a long way towards closing the Mid-Atlantic Gap.

[DogfighterZen]

Nice one. Love the weapons fit, really suits her.

Thank you, Sir, Captain, Sir!

In whiffverse, financial realities never need to apply, but if one insists, then the explanation is that Military Assistance Program was greatly extended and expanded because reasons? *handwaving intensifies* Perhaps in this case, the Soviet carrier task forces roaming the Atlantic posed a threat (also) to NATO's southwestern flank, so long-range fighters and strike aircraft needed to be deployed to counter that threat? Placing F-16XL's armed with Harpoons to Lajes AFB in the Azores and Porto Santo on Madeira would go a long way towards closing the Mid-Atlantic Gap.

That is a very logical scenario, similar to the one i used on my first backstory for the F-16V ADCUP: http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,39813.0.html

My new alternative Portuguese navy will make that idea obsolete, though...