star49i think there are two versions block 50/52 and advance block 50/52 customized according to customer. i think F-16 greater range and very heavy maximum take off weight for single engine fighter make it deep striker more in class of F-15E or Su-30.
http://www.codeonemagazine.com/archives/2003/articles/jul_03/block50-52/index.html
Conformal Fuel Tanks
The most distinguishing external feature of an Advanced Block 50/52, when installed, is a set of conformal fuel tanks attached to the upper fuselage. All of these latest F-16s have structural, plumbing, and wiring provisions for the conformal tanks. The tank set holds 450 gallons (more than 3,000 pounds) of additional JP-5/8. The extra fuel increases range, loiter time, and combat persistence as well as reduces the demand for tanker support. Range increase is on the order of twenty to forty percent, depending on the stores configuration and mission profile.
The conformals, which can be used in lieu of wing tanks, free the inner wing store stations and can double the primary air-to-ground payload. The tanks have an imperceptible effect on the F-16’s agility, handling qualities, flight limits, and signature. Moreover, the tanks do not interfere with daily inspections and servicing, and the impact on maintenance access is minimal. A complete set can be removed or replaced in two hours by a small crew and a hoist.
600-Gallon Wing Tanks
The Advanced Block 50/52 variant is certified to carry the 600-gallon wing fuel tanks. These tanks increase range or persistence up to thirty percent over the standard 370-gallon wing tanks. The tanks are mounted on non-jettisonable pylons that can also carry the more common 370-gallon tanks.
Landing Gear
The Advanced Block 50/52 versions have heavy-weight landing gear designed for up to 52,000 pounds maximum takeoff gross weight.
Radar
A major enhancement is the Northrop Grumman APG-68(V)9 multimode radar, one of the most advanced radars in the skies today. This radar has more than fivefold faster processing speed and tenfold greater memory capacity over the previous APG-68(V)7/8 radar. The new processors have even higher growth potential.
A high-resolution synthetic aperture radar mode allows the pilot to locate and recognize tactical ground targets from considerable distances. In conjunction with inertially aided weapons, such as GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition, the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon, and CBU-103/104/105 Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser, the F-16 gains an enhanced capability for all-weather precision strike from standoff distances. The radar features an inertial measurement unit that improves dynamic tracking performance and provides an auto-boresight capability, which increases accuracy and eliminates the need for time-consuming mechanical boresighting.
Air-to-air improvements in-clude a thirty percent increase in detection range and improvements in functionality and tracking quality in various modes.
Radar reliability is increased by fifty percent to nearly 400 hours mean time between failures. Commercial off-the-shelf technology is expected to improve supportability significantly. Using off-the-shelf technology resolves existing issues with availability and cost of spare parts and also makes technology refreshes more affordable.
Targeting System
The Advanced Block 50/52 can employ the latest generation targeting systems, such as the Lockheed Martin Sniper XR/Pantera targeting pod that is mounted on the right inlet sensor station. In conjunction with laser-guided bombs, the pod provides day/night precision strikes from high altitudes. Among other uses, the targeting systems can be used for seeker cueing of a variety of guided weapons and covert air-to-air operations.
Navigation and Reconnaissance Pods
A navigation pod, such as LANTIRN/Pathfinder, can be fitted to the left inlet sensor station. A variety of reconnaissance pods can be carried on the centerline fuselage station.
Cockpit
The Advanced Block 50/52 cockpit features a helmet-mounted cueing system, color multifunction displays and recording equipment, cockpit lighting and external strip lighting compatible with night vision goggles, and large-capacity data transfer sets.
A choice of helmet-mounted cueing systems is available. These systems allow a pilot to direct sensors or weapons to his line of sight or to help him find a designated target. The helmet display also provides critical flight and target information to the pilot — similar to a head-up display, but in any direction the pilot looks.
Dorsal Avionics Compartment
All two-seat models of the Advanced Block 50/52 have a distinctive dorsal avionics compartment that allows these aircraft to accommodate all of the systems of the single-seat model as well as some special mission equipment and additional chaff/flare dispensers. The rear cockpit can be configured for either a weapon system operator or an instructor pilot and can be converted with a single switch in the cockpit.
Communication, Navigation, and Identification
A variety of options are available in radio communication and navigation systems, including UHF, VHF AM/FM, HF, satellite communication, tactical air navigation, VHF omnidirectional receiver, distance measuring equipment, and instrument landing system. An integrated precision navigation suite consisting of a ring laser gyro inertial navigation system, global positioning system, and a digital terrain system is standard.
A choice of data link systems is offered, including the NATO-standard Link 16, in addition to the data modem associated with the UHF/VHF radios. Link 16 provides secure, jam-resistant, high-volume data exchange on a multi-node network.
A standard feature on all F-16s today is a combined friend from foe interrogator/ transponder, which permits autonomous identification to maximize launch ranges of radar-guided air-to-air missiles.
Core Avionics and Central Computer
The Advanced Block 50/52 offers two different core avionics hardware and software architectures. Some aircraft have the modular mission computer, while other customers have opted for the latest general avionics computer. This generation of avionics computers benefits from technology advances including increased processing speeds and mem-ory capacity. They also incorporate off-the-shelf technology, which improves supportability, provides refresh roadmaps, and reduces future development costs. Some versions have a high-speed fiber optic data bus, which provides large growth potential for data throughput.Countermeasures
Equipment
All Advanced Block 50/52 versions have modern internal electronic countermeasures systems. The Greek aircraft have the Advanced Self-Protection Integrated Suite, which consists of the Northrop Grumman ALR-93 radar warning receiver and electronic warfare controller, the Raytheon ALQ-187 RF jammer, and the BAE Systems ALE-47 chaff/ flare dispenser. The Israeli aircraft have an electronic warfare suite produced by Elisra. Most other Advanced Block 50/52 customers will have the ITT Advanced Internal Defensive Electronic Warfare System. These systems provide integrated electronic counter-measures, radar warning, and chaff/flare dispensing for self-protection against a wide range of threats. Internal mounting (in place of a countermeasure pod) eliminates drag, provides full spherical antenna coverage, and frees up an external station for other stores.
Engines
The Advanced Block 50/52 aircraft have a common engine bay that allows customers a choice of engines in the 29,000-pound thrust class. The Block 50s are powered by the General Electric F110-GE-129 and have the Modular Common Inlet Duct (known as the large mouth inlet). The Block 52s are powered by the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 and have a Normal Shock Inlet (known as the small mouth inlet).
On-Board Oxygen Generation
An on-board oxygen-generating system replaces the liquid oxygen system of earlier versions to provide breathable air to the pilot. The system improves maintainability, deployability, and safety
Other Equipment Options
Besides those alternatives already mentioned, F-16 customers still have the option of a drag chute, paint schemes, and the world’s largest inventory of certified stores—more than 100 items certified in approximately 5,000 configurations. The Advanced Block 50/52s are capable of delivering the US family of GPS-guided precision weapons and a variety of high-off-boresight air-to-air missiles, including the AIM-9X Sidewinder, IRIS-T, and Python
star49the thing is that this whole M2K-MIG-29 debate is premature. MM singh is incapable of clearing this amount of deal in his term. only decision after 2008 can be made.
star49He observed that Pakistan has identified certain targets for its airforce and one of them is acquisition of high-tech aircraft like F-16. The President added that the country would also continue to look for other options of state-of-the-art fighter planes as it would be in line with the government’s policy of diversification. With the induction of the state-of-the-art fighter planes, he said, the Pakistan Air Force will become a very potent force to reckon with
This statement has put a big hole in certain member predictions about PAF through his dubious sources and so as the JF-17 story. PAF may simply not want to show the other options untill it gets hand on F-16
star49Your assumption that the APG-66 of the F-16A had a longer detection range v/s the MiG-29A’s `Slot Back’ is incorrect. A rough estimate (rough coz actual ranges depend on target RCS etc etc ) would be a 20nm advantage for the MiG-29A and a 10-15nm advantage for the Mirage 2000 v.s the F-16A.
there is time difference of alteast 5 to 8 years between F-16A and Mirage 2000, MIG-29. also MIG-29 has much larger nose and rcs. so thing balance out except for the time.
star49how 16 aircraft ordered becomes 24 aircraft? 126 is such huge quantity that arming them will take alot of money. better option is upgrade all current MIG-29 to SMT standards and Mirages to M2K-9 standard. so it is more quality strike force and leave the money for 5Th generation fighter. these aircrafts arent coming before 2010.
star49I remember reading that about 100 had been upgraded to bis standards and the rest were being done this year. Try to contact harry , he might have the source. Its not like PAFS F-16 acquisition plan that it takes 15 years to beg and obtain, its just a simple upgrade. 😀
It also took almost 15 years. read the Flight International article of early 90s “Fighting over Scraps“. 😀 not to mention MIG-21 is a primitive fighter.
star49IAF has 16 operational squadrons of MiG-21s and more in reserve. 175 of them are being upgraded. If phasing out the MiG-21 begins in a couple of years, it will still take 7-8 years to complete them. It has to be done squadron by squadron.
I suppose PAF is the only airforce in the world which can magically press a button and replace all their old planes with new ones overnight 😀
The MRCAs will be ordered in 2006-07 and will start arriving in 2009 timeframe. LCAs will be inducted in some numbers starting then. For dufuses like the one guy Zeeshan Nabi, this simple logic is hard to understand. I don’t know that Canada had such low standards for the IQs of their doctors. :rolleyes:
how do you know MRCA arrival in 2009?
star49Rip, Indias primary long and medium term strategic rival is PRC, and then the US. Pak is a sideshow of a puppet they both prop up to keep Indian minds ‘engaged’ and away from extra regional issues.
however the tides have changed permanently and if you look at the division of the budget lately, the armys share is coming down the navy and AF are going up. India now has vital trade interests and sea lanes stretching to brazil and venezuela in the west and australia in the east…minerals, oil, agri produce, the stuff that keeps economies humming. arrangements will have to be made to protect all these linkages to the world economy.
I am quite disappointed they are considering only light birds for MRCA. something like
the SU34 armed with suitably advanced ground mapping and surveillance radar would
be the best option to have more potent strike teeth wrt PRC. like the MKI, much of the avionics could be non-russian and the radar could perhaps be sourced from Israel.When the PRC Flanker threat is dealt with head-on, there will be more than enough
combat power to *crush* anything smaller and a good base to start planning how to
deal with future US adventures in the region…which will come as sure as night follows day.I dont see any signs yet that US is prepared to ‘accomodate’ India into various power broker bodies peacefully and without extracting heavy ‘concessions’, so the only mode of entry left is kicking the door down at some point.
Power is never given for free, it is taken.
From brazil to Venzuala? I didnot know india has such a big coast line. I think India need BlackJack for MRCA role not Su-34. :p
star49Like I said, by the time PAF gets 70 odd F-16s, IAF will have 400 odd Su-30MKIs and MRCAs plus 70 odd MiG-29s and IN’s 24 MiG-29Ks.
The MiG-21 Bisons and LCAs can handle the FC-1.
The gap can never be closed.
how you calculate 400 MKI and MRCA. It will take 2020 for IAF to have 190MKI. MRCA is more of pipe dream like LCA. 70 MIG-29 will be retired. only 24 MIG-29K is addition at reasonable time frame. If F-16 is to be delivered to PAF it will be in next 4 to 8 year at most.
star49just goes to show how ignorant you really are. the AL-31FP is considered to be one of the best engines around. read around a bit, and you’ll find that the maneuvers that are considered to be just for airshows are performable by the Sukhois thanks to the engine. Even at highly restricted airflow regimes they perform well without flaming out.
what rubbish are you claiming ? wanna check out the figures for the number of F-16s with engine failures ?!
http://afsafety.af.mil/magazine/htdocs/febmag98/eng_relt.htm
The primary culprits are the older Pratt & Whitney jets with the F100-PW-200 engines.In the F-16 family, “2” series Block designations such as Block 32/42/52 are Pratt-Whitney engined, while “0” series Block designations such as Block 30/40/50 are with the General Electric engine. The problem that’s been found with the older Pratts relates to the afterburner section. The AB shrouds have been falling off due to fatigue failure of the weld between the shroud and the engine. The result is a huge temperature rise with possible fire followed by engine failure. The GE engines, (F110-GE-100/129) at least to date, haven’t been having the same failure rate as the Pratts; possibly because of their different AB section design.
I read somewhere that USAF F-16s with PW engines are combat restricted. not sure if thats true though.
also read this
http://home.att.net/~jbaugher4/f16_6.html
Also read this !
http://www.afa.org/magazine/feb2004/0204accidents.html
“The USAF analysis showed that two-thirds of the 2002 accidents resulted primarily from human-factor issues, which generally means poor situational awareness during flight.”
“From 1993 through 1997, single-engine F-16 fighters each year had the most engine failures of USAF aircraft. An extensive engine improvement program brought down the number of power plant-related crashes.”
no need to put this useless stuff. dont try to compare one airforce to another. just the quantity and number of hrs that F-16 has flown in combat is far more than any sukhoi. thousands of sorties within weeks.
star49I wonder how you gonna back this BS up… F-16 Block 52 is a totally average fighter aircraft in today’s world, light years away from any quantum leap in capabilities.
Get a life, buddy…
how exactly is F-16blk52 average fighter in todays world? if it is equipped with falcon edge ew system, aim-120C and aim-9x. it will take care of any thing thrown up by EU or russia for a very long time to come. it can go as far as flanker with cft and carry as much external load as flanker which is almost twice the size and unreliable engines. now dont start to compare PW engines with AL-31. new apg radars have more MTBF than any other radars outside us.
star49If I were you, I would be a bit more restrained before dumping on India. When you haven’t been looking, they’ve been quietly churning Mig-27s, Jags, and other misc. aerospace related nitty-gritty’s here and there that have led them to where they are now – avionics development on the Su-30MKIs, the Bison, the -27, the -29, the Mirage-2000 and the Jags, of course not forgetting the LCA and IJT.
About BVR, it’s not something that you would wail your throats dry and somebody would just hand it to you on a platter. Pakistan could’ve come up with their own BVR missiles, but …
All of IAF programs depends on foreign engines, missiles and radars, so it does not matter if some one started 20 years ago or not result is the same.
star49Okay, so Yasser, you do agree that Times of India is a reliable news paper then? 😀
I’ll keep that in mind as you post news here (before you are banned again) and in Pakdef along with pics of your fat ugly mamoo. 😀
India has a requirement for 25 MPAs. But I guess you don’t know much.
BTW, you seem to forget that there is a big world of defense contractors outside the US. The US has delivered the items India ordered. Maybe its me, but you cannot expect to get something that hasn’t been ordered – usually.:D IAF can pick and choose any supplier in the world for any technology it wants to get. And BTW, stop dreaming of dorsal spines for PAF F-16s. You may get the standard Block 52s if Mushy is alive in the next 10 years and keeps dismantling the nuclear program as per US demands. 😀 Did you read the report where it says PAF’s F-16 orders are going to be be over 10 years? Time to dry your chaddy? 😀
What a joker you are Yasser. And a flamer too, but posting naval items here just to show your ignorance and elicit responses before you are banned again.
I am still waiting for India buying those C-130s and P-3C. 😀
and regarding F-16 delivery schedule most of the work will be done in next 4 years. there is no such thing as 10 year program.
And what do you think Qatar will that easily sale those M2K-5 when it hasnt sign any new aircraft deal and is flown by some particular country pilots and government is allied to US. they will keep raising the price of those aircrafts untill it become endless negotiations. this time there is no escape. 😀
star49rumors has no place here read my post care fully what i said nothing is
con firm yet 😎
rumour is about block number not about the aircraft.
star49And that’s 3 years ago. IAF now has more choices before it including F-16 Block 60 plus plus 🙂 and F/A-18 E/Fs 😉 and the government just saw Pakistan getting its payment for services, so more funds can be easily made available if needed. We will soon see you squirm as IAF gets M2K-5Mk2s or Rafales or Super Hornets :diablo:
Either way, IAF will have 400 planes all superior to the few F-16 Blk 52s that Pakistan may get if it does a lot of things for the next 3-4 years.
Again you are confusing decision making with actual delivery of planes. PAF may get the planes in next 3 or 4 years while IAF cannot make decision which one to chose in next 3 or 4 years delivery is far fetched idea. thats the difference. and neither is better than F-16.
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