F-16 and (Mitsubushi) F2

[elmayerle]

After some research, I appear to be in error, only AMRAAMs, no Sparrows.  Probably all to the good since it eliminates the need for continuously illuminating the target.  From the one underside picture I've seen, the AMRAAM carriage was identical to that of the F-16XL.

[Spey_Phantom]

BUMP

just came across this one when i was watching the movie "The Jewel of the Nile" 
it looks like an Mig-ised F-16/F-2 

might want to build this one day 



and after the heroes stole it, it ended up in the Kalid desert looking something like this 

[KJ_Lesnick]

You know honestly the Mitsubishi F-2 kind of strikes me as a the closest F-16-derivative equivalent to the F-18E/F series.  Basically an F-16, but a lot bigger and aerodynamicallly revised in a few areas (granted the F-18E/F was revised more, and had totally new intake shapes too)


KJ Lesnick

[Spey_Phantom]

not to mention the 2-piece canopy 

[Daryl J.]

KJ,  IIRC, the F-2 is exactly that but had significant extranational development and a different market target than the Super Hornet.



Daryl J.

[dy031101]

Would anyone know or be willing to venture a guess which designation LVT Model 1600/1601 would have got (F-16...... followed by what letter?) if it were accepted into service?

[Shasper]

You know honestly the Mitsubishi F-2 kind of strikes me as a the closest F-16-derivative equivalent to the F-18E/F series.  Basically an F-16, but a lot bigger and aerodynamicallly revised in a few areas (granted the F-18E/F was revised more, and had totally new intake shapes too)

Integrate the avionics & CFTs from the blk 60 Viper & you've got a real F-16E/F


Shas

[dy031101]

Integrate the avionics & CFTs from the blk 60 Viper & you've got a real F-16E/F


Shas

An updated F-2A/B (refered to by some sources as the "F-2 Super Kai") along the line you described (upgraded and "properly matured" version of F-2A/B avionics, JHMCS and AIM-9X capability, Sniper targetting pod, CFTs, active-radar-guided AAM and JDAM compatibility) was one of the candidates for F-4EJ replacement.  Don't know how that one went though.

[Shasper]

Yeah I remember the F-2Kai, but I was thinking of that plus the APG-80 & Falconeye IRST.


Shas

[KJ_Lesnick]

Dy031101,

What are those boxy thingies added atop the chines (a lot of the newer F-16's have those too)?  What do they do? 

And how much of a performance penalty do they take off the F-16 (Speed, acceleration, range, maneuverability)

[Taiidantomcat]

Conformal Fuel Tanks. More here:

http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/aircraft/f-16i/F-16I.html

[nev]

An updated F-2A/B (refered to by some sources as the "F-2 Super Kai") along the line you described (upgraded and "properly matured" version of F-2A/B avionics, JHMCS and AIM-9X capability, Sniper targetting pod, CFTs, active-radar-guided AAM and JDAM compatibility) was one of the candidates for F-4EJ replacement.  Don't know how that one went though.

Not been decided yet - the decision was due this year but it has been postponed till 2009, ostensibly so they can fund more F-15 Kai conversions, but in reality probly waiting till there is a new guy in the White House and see if he will sell them F-22Js   Most likely not, in which case the JASDF have said their preferred platform is the Typhoon

[Sauragnmon]

That Desert Falcon looks bloody sweet... finally something that, to me, makes the F-22's wings look nice.  Damn, guess that's another bird to add to my list of things-to-build-eventually.  Now if only somebody'd put out a 1/72 scale F-16XL Conversion kit.  The XL and the Desert Falcon look pretty damn sweet.

I don't know about the conformal tanks, they have that whole dip in the center that makes them not so conformal looking to me, at least on the F-2 Super Kai concept model there, though in hindsight, they don't look so bad with the dorsal avionics pod on the F-16I.

Leads me to a serious Whif idea here - F-16XL alterations to lower fuselage and wings, allowing better mission payload, with the conformal tanks and avionics package from the F-16I.  That would make one hell of a strike bird, with a real long flight range since the XL's wings had tanks in them.

[dy031101]

Thank you nev for the info.

Yeah I remember the F-2Kai, but I was thinking of that plus the APG-80 & Falconeye IRST.

Well the Super Hornet doesn't have internal FLIR or IRST, either, and the Japanese radar is also an ASEA one (of course if you want to totally Americanize it, then go for the Scalable Agile Beam Radar when the development is complete).

What are those boxy thingies added atop the chines (a lot of the newer F-16's have those too)?  What do they do? 

And how much of a performance penalty do they take off the F-16 (Speed, acceleration, range, maneuverability)

Taiidantomcat answered all the questions with the weblink.  The manufacturer has claimed that the CFTs impose only negligible performance penalties.

[dy031101]

Leads me to a serious Whif idea here - F-16XL alterations to lower fuselage and wings, allowing better mission payload, with the conformal tanks and avionics package from the F-16I.  That would make one hell of a strike bird, with a real long flight range since the XL's wings had tanks in them.

I actually think that CFTs would make this one look good.

New wings, thrust-vectoring F100, confirmal AMRAAM carriage (just like the F-16XL), and throw in the CFTs as well as the Scalable Agile Beam Radar (when it becomes available).  Then as mission dictates equip the plane with Sniper targetting pod and/or HTS pod- the ultimate F-16.