Considering that it has an HMD & Aim-9xBlk2, Aim-120C7, an AESA, IRST, good RwR & jammer… I give it at least an decent chance 🙂

Just to name a few F-16Blk60 RCS reduction measures:

Have Glass I/II, semi-recessed faceted FLIR, internal IRST (as opposed to a pod), CFTs instead of under-wing EFTs, and a canted AESA array.

It is also smaller than either.

I should have continued what I said before, ie “likely”, not “is”. My bad.

Why not Blk 60? It has a good AESA, very good RwR & jammers, IRST, and FLIR. Not quite sure about it’s level of sensor fusion. RCS is likely less than Raf & EF.

Cute graphic, but a little deceptive of the facts.

1. The NG cannot supercruise with tanks
2. The F-35 & Typhoon can carry the same “Ramjet BVR” missiles (read Meteor) that the NG can.
3. The F-35 can carry 4 BVR missiles (either AMRAAM or Meteor) internally. Blk5 includes a plan for 6 internal.
4. Supercruising to get on station is a very bad thing to do. It burns fuel at a tremendous rate as supersonic drag is a bitch. Notice how they did not say how long the F-35 could stay on station? Here’s a clue: It’s measured in hours.
5. When the call comes in for help, who do you think boots-on-the-ground would want assistance from, the NG who can only go ~M1.2 or so (due to all the external fuel, missiles, and bombs causing high drag) or the F-35 who can reach M1.67+
6. The jury is still out on whether the F-35 can go above M1.0 at mil thrust. LM and the DoD has said that the F-35 cannot supercruise, but they consider that M1.5+.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the NG for certain roles. I think the Swiss made the right decision, even if the F-35 was offered.

Smaller, lighter, and cheaper… yes

Able to carry 8SDB and 2 AMRAAMs internally… not so much.

Um, did we all forget about SDB, Griffin, APKWS, etc? We are already developing and carrying smaller PGMs in greater numbers.

The goal is to reduce the volume and weight compared with the current Mk82-84 500-2000 lb bomb family, thus allowing internal carriage in larger numbers.

This is exactly what the F-35 has done. While it has the ability to carry two 2k (or 1k for the F-35B) bombs internally, it also has the ability to carry eight SDBs.

The above article does not advocate the loss of the ability to carry a 2k load, just to develop smaller PGMs in order to carry more, which we have done. Just to show how many it can carry, the F-35A can carry 32-44 SDBs when all the internal and external hardpoint are used.

I think he was wondering about guiding the 4 LGBs. Maybe they did buddy missions where the partner did the lasing? Or they were ground lased?

Here is a shot of a F-14 with the LANTIRN pod on the glove pylon.

That chart is a little misleading on the F-18’s bomb load. Current BRU-55/57/69 class racks allow two 500 or 1000lb class weapons (including JSOW) to be carried (11x 500lb or 1000lb class weapons can be carried instead of 7) per wing station.