Modelers, a group of F-16s just landed at the local airstrip. When landing, I noticed that some of them were carrying what appared to be AMMRAM missles on the wingtips. I thought only sidewinders could be mounted there? When did that change?
I think this happened when the AMRAAM was paired with the F-16. I’ve also heard of other stores for the wingtip pylons… training missiles and nav pods, i think. [:)]
One thing I’ve noticed recently is that whenever I see a Viper carrying Slammers on 1 & 9 (wingtips) they’re always AIM-120C’s. I haven’t looked back far enough in the files to know for sure, but it occurs to me that they don’t ever seem to carry the earlier variants of the missle on the wingtips. I’ll have to dig some and see what I can see, but in the meantime does anyone know if they carry Charlies on 1 & 9 exclusively and why?
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Well, here’s what I want to know: If this is happening with the F16, what about the F-18? I’d love to mount a pair of 120’s on my Academy 1/32 bug!! [:D]
I dunno if the Hornet can carry Slammers on the wingtips or not, I’m sorta doubting it. BUT, this would be even better… (sorry for the crappy image)
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OUCH! That’s alot o’teeth right there!!!
The F-16 wing tip launchers can carry the AIM-120 as well as the AIM-9. They do not have to change the launcher to carry a different missile.
The F-16C/D was the first version to carry the AIM-120. They had a test with the A and B models and when they became operational with the slammer they carried the B models. Most A and B models have now been rebuilt into the C model.
The F/A-18C/D and E/F carry the slammer, but only on launchers attatched to the wing pylons. I saw a F/A-F18C at Tyndall AFB with four slammer launchers mounted on the outboard wing pylons.
Ya know, I just noticed that thing is carrying 10 of those things! I didn’t see the other two mounted to the intakes!
Now, why the hell would you need a loadout of 10 AMRAAMs and 2 sidewinders?
I don’t know why he did that, maybe you should ask the Air Forc why its doing the same with the Raptor!![8D]
Because someday we may actually attack a country that has an air force! [;)]
This was a VX-4 bird, so they were probably testing the feasibility of such a load. Remember, once the F-14 is gone, the F/A-18 will assume the additional role of fleet defender. And afterall, if I were an admiral during wartime, I’d like to know that there’s a buncha missile-toting birds up to defend the fleet.
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these is the specification of the F-16 Fighting Falcon:
General Dynamics F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
Origin: USA
Type: single-seat air-combat and multi-role fighter
Max Speed: 1,146 kt / 1,320 mph
Max Range 3,886 km / 2,415 miles
Dimensions: span 10.00 m / 32 ft 9.75 in
length 15.03 m / 49 ft 4 in
height 5.09 m / 16 ft 8.5 in
Weight: empty 8,273 kg / 18,218 lb
max. take-off 19,187 lb
Powerplant: one 13154-kg (29,000-lb) afterburning thrust Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 or General Electric F110-GE-129 turbofan
Armament: one 20-mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon with 500 rounds, plus provision for up to 9276 kg (20,450 Ib) of externa ordnance on one underfuselage, six underwing and two tip hardpoints, this total declining to 5420 kg (11,950 Ib) for sorties including 9-g manoeuvres; the ordnance can include AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, a wide range of disposable ordnance (free-tall and guided), drop tanks and electronic pods (ECM, reconnaissance and targeting)
Operators: Bahrain, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States
Hi there people. A little update about dutch F-16s. Since these were upgraded from F-16A to F-16 MLU (mid life upgrade) standard, roughly comparable to F-16C’s, they also carry AMRAAMs on the wingtips. In this case of the AIM-120B variety. I would have liked to include a picture of one, but can’t seem to find a way to attach any pictures [:(]
Blackwolf, could you tell me how you posted that F-18 picture?
Cheers,
Filibert[%-)][banghead]
I always loved that picture of the F-18 with that loadout. I have even considered building that as a model. You know they mean business when they carry that many missiles… especially when you are carrying 10 of the best missile in the world!
All F-16s that are equipped with the APG-68 radar system are able to carry and use the AIM-120B. They can be carried under wing, or on the wingtip stations.
BTW the “C” model Slammer is designed with a smaller wing system for use in the F-22 internal missle bay and most likely won’t be used on other airframes.
This reminds me of a picture I saw several years ago in an aviation magazine (Interavia, I think) of a European F-16, I think Belgian with Matra Magic AAMs on the wingtips. If I recall correctly it was just a testing program for compatibility with the missile and wasn’t persued beyond the testing phase.
I wish I could find out more about that testing program and what country was actually doing it because that F-16 looked so cool with the Magics on it.[:p]
Quite true that the Charlie Slammers are designed with the F-22 in mind, but they are being used by F-16’s.
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this thread has me imagining an F-16 with tip tanks [:p]
I haven’t seen any pictures of such an F-16, but the belgian ones seem the only cadidates, as the Belgian Airforce are the only ones (to my knowledge) to both use the F-16 and Mirage 5. Compatibility of the french magic missiles with the F-16 launchers would be benificial from an operational point of view. Would love to see a pic though!
Repeat request: could someone tell me how to post a pic on the forum? I got a nice one of a Klu F-16 MLU with AIM-120B’s on the tips…? Suffering from acute noobism…[:)]
I’ve done a bit of looking around on the net regarding the Magics on the F-16 and while I couldn’t find any photos of them, sveral sites state that Belgium carries Magics on its F-16s routinely as an alternative to sidewinders and Pakistani F-16s carry Magics as standard armament rather than Sidewinders