Raptor.777 Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 what version of the Shafir (spelling?) heat seeking missile would this aircraft have carried in the early 90's? I was thinking they might've used AIM 9 sidewinders but am not sure Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 At that time they were flying the Block 30 (PM II) jets and had just received the first Block 40 (PM III) jets in 1991. I don't have a lot of info on what they carried but my photos show both AIM-9L and Python 4 missiles mounted. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Raptor.777 Posted March 21, 2023 Author Share Posted March 21, 2023 Did they carry AMRAAM's also, or were those not available to the Isreali's back then? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jenshb Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 The Block 30 and 40 conversion kits I know of include 4x 16S210 launchers which are not AMRAAM capable, so I'd say no AMRAAM. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hoops Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 I think that the F-16I was the first Israeli F-16 to be AMRAAM capable. Per the Isradecal F-16I book: "The AIM-120 Air to Air missiles became operational in the late 90s with teh arrival of the first F-15I Ra'am aircraft to the IAF. It was just logical that the F-16I Sufa could be armed with these advanced missiles. The Sufa is the only IAF F-16 version with radar guided missile capability." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Niels Posted March 22, 2023 Share Posted March 22, 2023 Although Raanan Wise knows he's Israeli Vipers, there is a breach of logic in that statement. Firstly, all F-16's from block 25/30/32 onwards have the capability to guide and launch AIM-120's, it follows from the development path of the Viper. You just need the right software update at worst Then, although rarely if ever seen, Israeli Vipers should be able to carry the Darby radar guide missile. Derby can be carried on the 16S210 rails, same as the Pythons. The F-16I is however the one model that regularly carries the AIM-120 as seen on plenty of photos. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted March 22, 2023 Share Posted March 22, 2023 Software capabilities and political agreements are two different things. I don't know the specifics for IADF but an FMS operator of a specific block may not have "everything". 😎 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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