chomper Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 A question from my son. Which version of the F-16 is in Afghanistan? And what might a "typical" load out be? Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jester292 Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 F-16C. There are different blocks, but that gets complicated for some youngsters. Aaron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Exhausted Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 Try F-16.net for some pictures of F-16s in theater. Then you'll know which antennas and fins to look for. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BeeJee Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 (edited) F-16AM's from the Royal Netherland Airforce are also in Afganistan, over 3 million pictures the make allready with there special recce pods to find roadbombs and other bad stuff. Edited July 19, 2013 by BeeJee Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Camus272 Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 (edited) Pretty much any kind of F-16C has been there. Minnesota has sent F-16C block 25 and recently Block 50s. Alabama has sent block 30s, Arkansas block 32, South Carolina block 52, Ohio block 42 and the 466th from Hill AFB block 40. That covers all of the US versions. I'm not sure who is currently deployed though. As for weapons ,the simplified answer is generally GBU-12s under one wing and GBU-38 or GBU-31s on the other with the standard fuel tanks and wingtip AIM-120s. Brian Edited July 19, 2013 by Camus272 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 Why do they carry aa missiles in Afghanistan? There isn't any air threat other than big birds to my knowledge. ( wich is limited, I know but anyhow) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 Why do they carry aa missiles in Afghanistan? There isn't any air threat other than big birds to my knowledge. ( wich is limited, I know but anyhow) You never know when you might have to engage an aerial target. Could be a hijacked civil or transport aircraft with the intention of crashing it into a target. Could be an aircraft flown across the border with hostile intent. Could be an Afghan helo taken over by the bad guys. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-17 guy Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 Why do they carry aa missiles in Afghanistan? There isn't any air threat other than big birds to my knowledge. ( wich is limited, I know but anyhow) Tis better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Collin Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 Wingtip flutter reduced with AIM-120's out there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 Wingtip flutter reduced with AIM-120's out there. Aha, heard something about that on Gripen too..... common issue on wings with wing tipped launchers? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 (edited) If they were just carrying them as dead weight for flutter, they would just carry dummies or CATMs, which don't have sensitive internals that might be damaged by exposure to the elements, or require special handling. If they are carrying live weapons, I think it's highly likely they believe there is a possibility that they might be used. Edited July 20, 2013 by Dave Williams Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 Also drones that go astray may need to be brought down, which has happened. Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chomper Posted July 23, 2013 Author Share Posted July 23, 2013 Thanks for all the help! Its making this easier. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
31Tiger Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 (edited) Wingtip flutter reduced with AIM-120's out there. Dutch and Belgian F-16's do not carry AIM-120 in Afghanistan. They used to carry 2 AIM-9 sidewinders, but that got reduced to zero or just 1 Sidewinder. There is ZERO air threat over there Edited July 23, 2013 by 31Tiger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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