MATV isn’t necesarily such a big deal with high off-boresight AAMs and HMS systems.

Still, it might have been viable in the 80s when these programs were conceived, when such missiles weren’t really in use yet and the Cold War was in full swing. But by the time the technologies for a TV capable F-16 matured, the times had already changed with HMD and whatnot. And unfortunately I don’t see much of a market for TV-equipped F-16s today. Much like the F-20 Tigershark’s poor market potential, if buyers could afford such an upgrade for their F-16, they’d be more likely to just buy a new plane that’s arguably more capable (F-35, Su-30, Gripen, etc). Or if they couldn’t afford it, they’d just buy the standard F-16.

But, it’s still possible; I doubt LockMart would ever sell an upgrade/design of the F-16 with TV since they have their F-35 now, but maybe it would materialize as an indigenous upgrade of sorts?

But, who knows what the future holds? It might materialize as a small upgrade for the F-16 in the twilight of it’s career (2040’s maybe?) to make it somewhat competitive with the latest Su-51BM Super Furnace (personally developed by our very own Star49, the greatest and most influential aircraft designer of the 21st century :diablo: ), QF-22E Drone Raptor, ADF-01 Falken, and whatnot.

At any rate, I can still dream… I myself would love to see an F-16 with the AFTI canards, MATV thrust vectoring, ASEA, IRST, CFTs, HMD, AIM-9X, Meteor missile, uprated F135-PW-100 engine, twin-tail arrangement, LO features, and the forward-swept wings of the F-16 FSW concept. Maybe we should give the design to the Russians and see how they pimp it out.

And if I remember correctly, the Japanese F-2 nearly ended up getting the AFTI canards…

The phantom is still a great platform even today; it’s big, which means you can easily upgrade it and it can carry a competitive payload; probably the main reason why it managed to outlive other fighters of it’s generation like the F-5E and Mig-23. Give it modern engines (F135s? :eek:), modern avionics, and ASEA and you have a poor-man’s F-15E. Have you any idea how badass that would be!?

And I never did understand why people call it ugly. I think it looks fine for a fighter; hell, I’d go out of my way and call it beautiful.

Well, regarding the doors, I know in the game Ace Combat (there goes my credibility out the window :eek:) it has the Su-47 with the same bay arrangement as planeman6000’s picture. In the game, it’s depicted as two bays (with two doors that fold open like the raptor), the large one in the back with the big missiles/bombs and the small one in the front that holds two small missiles. (AA-8 in this case)

…okay, so it’s just a video game, but its the closet thing that I can think of seeing the Berkut’s bay doors in action.

I didn’t know they were using the Su-47 as a testbed until recently. I’m pleasantly surprised. Hopefully they’ll test the PAK FA’s thrust vectoring on it as well and then my dream airplane will be complete.

thats simple.

ever since the Su-47 has stopped flying in Airshows in Russia. Sukhoi has leased some of the prototypes to Namco where its being used for flight testing against some odd forces that like to throw waves of waves of Flankers for no apparent reason. Its also been painted with cute little anime girls on the upper fuesalage.

I hear they also tested the plane using giant flying fortresses, aerial cruise missiles, and women hunting for underage girls. They should make USAF Red Flag like that. :dev2:

F-22: 0 – Ironman: 1 😮 😀

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGO0sHTWsmg

Oh my gourd! It’s footage of the secret PAK FA in action! We have absolutely been pwned! 😮 :diablo:

F-16 MATV – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZQDwRKHCSQ
F-16 AFTI – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEtTcU_P-5I

Now if only they had combined the two into one badass superfighter…

This is serious 😡

I suppose you’re right, to an extent, but this is nothing compared to the Colombian / Venezuelan border fiasco a few months back. Now THAT was serious.

Every so often news like this just comes out of Venezuela once in a while, particularly due to it’s rather, shall we say, expressive leader. It’s hard to really take the little dictator seriously anymore. :rolleyes: