PAF F-16 | Discussions
- Thread starter Trailer23
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Ibbi32
Registered Member
Not really the current Ukrainian fleet is still blk-15 based and because only EPAF are supplying it for now we dont have to worry about all the planes going to them just yet.
Gripen9
Trusted Member
Others have asked the question as well. Didn't our F-16 already have Link16 installed? Or is it just the blk52+ that have Link16?
If this is just Comms upgrade + SLEP with V kits being declined/not offered as a follow up, will we be allowed to pursue Turkish upgrade option?
@Oscar alluded that the vipers may be primarily tasked as "bomb trucks" go forward. Will we be allowed to integrate non US munitions suchbas Turk SOW / SOM etc? Otherwise we'll only have paveways or JDAMs available for ground attack. We have junked our old AGM65s years ago.
If this is just Comms upgrade + SLEP with V kits being declined/not offered as a follow up, will we be allowed to pursue Turkish upgrade option?
@Oscar alluded that the vipers may be primarily tasked as "bomb trucks" go forward. Will we be allowed to integrate non US munitions suchbas Turk SOW / SOM etc? Otherwise we'll only have paveways or JDAMs available for ground attack. We have junked our old AGM65s years ago.
Gripen9
Trusted Member
I believe the vision is to equip UkAF with about 100+ refurbished F16s in the next 2-5 years. Sticking point is Donnie wants Ukraine to pay for it. Tgat is why zelensky is hedging on acquoring Gripens.
Yasser76
Elite Member
Was not just the planes, but everything that came with them (training, ethos, safety culture etc) that greatly helped PAF
Ibbi32
Registered Member
We jumped from a British culture to an American culture which greatly helped us compared to indian pilots which mostly adopted a soviet culture
Fatman17
Moderator
The maintainers have been trained in the USA and TAI. upto 40 airmen as I can recall
Fatman17
Moderator
If PAF intends to purchase new munitions for the F-16 fleet than the necessary upgrades have been requested.
Link-16
Avionics/ software
Safety - to replace possible worn out parts.
Remember the 2 F-16s stranded in the azores a few years back. The USAF tech had deemed some parts as unsafe and they had to be replaced before the aircraft flew to the USA for the MLU.
Link-16
Avionics/ software
Safety - to replace possible worn out parts.
Remember the 2 F-16s stranded in the azores a few years back. The USAF tech had deemed some parts as unsafe and they had to be replaced before the aircraft flew to the USA for the MLU.
Ibbi32
Registered Member
What i havent heard people comment on is the new adu-981 missile adapater unit. Could anyone with more knowledge on the aircraft or us systems please explain the significance of this
Fatman17
Moderator
PAF F-16A block 15 #84713 is seen at Lajes Field, Azores after a test flight on February 11th, 2008. This jet remained at this location for 4 months and 3 days. [Photo by Leandro Rocha]
kimjongun
Registered Member
isnt that confedential like how many people are trained in one thing?
Ali_Baba
VIP Member
The Link-16 will help with the situation awareness of the F16s as they can be fed from Pakistan core infrastructure with conversions from Link-17 to Link-16 protocols and terminals.
Is there a chance that the PAF already has link 16, but is upgrading to a Software defined radio variant(SDR) to help counter jamming efforts of the IAF in the future as being SDR, it can be changed/upgraded quickly ?
This wont fix any "distance" issues as the F16 will still have the C5 variant only, but it may make the F16s as flexible as the JF17/J10CE's are in PAFs new operational doctrines.
Had these F16s gotten the SABR radar, "then" you could try and argue they are getting close to the Rafales unless the claim is the Link-16 integration brings a much wider tactical and targeting picture which brings it on par.
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Ibbi32
Registered Member
What i think people are overlooking is that the sale of 92 link 16 systems is listed separately as a MDE purchase of 37mln compared to 650mln upgrade of f-16. This likely means that whilst related the systems aren’t automatically to be assumed as mounted on the f-16s. I still believe my theory that the systems will be mounted on other platforms to communicate with our f-16s better. Also notably just because we already have link-16 on our planes doesn’t make then the same, a more mordern version may include better data transfer speeds transferring more types of data faster and more securely for example.
