backspace340 Posted June 5, 2019 Posted June 5, 2019 I'm not actually 100% sure the Block 50 F-16CM could carry these in 2007 but it seems like it *may* have been possible, so this is more of a request for some of the SME maintenance guys to chip in and confirm either way. From a bit of detective work, I have found these photos of block 40 USAF Vipers carrying the laser Maverick over Iraq in 2007: These are from the 4th FS from Hill AB, and the middle shot with a laser maverick is serial number 89-2143 (if that matters). As far as I can tell, these birds had the CCIP upgrade at the time of the photos - this link says 'Hill's 4th Fighter Squadron was the first to fly CCIP F-16s in combat in August 2007'. The question is, if a Block 40 CCIP Viper could carry and fire Laser Mavericks in 2007, would a Block 50 CCIP Viper be able to?
EcceHomo Posted June 9, 2019 Posted June 9, 2019 In Iraq, this is a special case. IR missiles do not work well in high heat environments. Both the Air Force and the Navy use AGM-65E-2 in Iraq because it is not easily interfered with.
mvsgas Posted August 17, 2019 Posted August 17, 2019 (edited) The question is, if a Block 40 CCIP Viper could carry and fire Laser Mavericks in 2007, would a Block 50 CCIP Viper be able to? Short answer: A weapons carried by one specific F-16 does not correlate the same weapon on another F-16 ( even the same block and air force) There many variable. Long answer: I have been looking, but I can't find any reference to any version of the laser guided AGM-65. I can only see AGM-65A, B, D, G, H and K. From A models F-16 to block 42 circa 2011 using OFP 5.2. I could not tell you how or why those specific aircraft in the photos carried or employ those missiles. It could be a number or reasons but I could only guess at any of them. - It could be a specific modification for that specific squadron for the deployment. - It could be something they tested but did not pan out. Hill unit ( at the time) tended to get the latest updates/upgrades for Block 40 while Shaw unit got the block 50 updates/upgrades (something else I can not explain why). So you could see unique load outs on those units once and never again. Also remember at the time (early 2000) the USAF was going through a lot of frequent and fast changes. Form bases closing, to units changing aircraft, missions and a lot of members leaving of being separated. - We can see things like the Combat Edge breathing G vest that appear everywhere, and disappear just as fast. - Bases like Holloman AFB went from F-117, to F-22 to drone in a few years. Now is a F-16 training base. - Eielson transition to Aggressor mission and all of its operational F-16 got spread around. - Eglin went from testing; to testing and USAFSOCOM; to USAFSOCOM, testing and F-35 training build up, etc. - Cannon AFB transition to a SOCOM mission and all of it F-16 got spread to many units, you could see Tail coded CC F-16 in Alaska, Korea or even in testing units (Eglin, Nellis or Edwards) The bases closing or changing mission is significant because their Aircraft, weapons and stores (TGP, ECM, etc) where sent to other installation/units. People leaving or separating from the service was significant because same or more work had to be spread to smaller number units. This meant longer or more frequent deployment. This also meant some units got updates/upgrades months, if not years ahead of others. Additionally, some of the weapons software had weird quirks. - Some will show AGM-88 as AG65D in the Stores Management Set (SMS) - Many weapons could be carried and employ but would not have ballistic data. Edited August 17, 2019 by mvsgas spelling To whom it may concern, I am an idiot, unfortunately for the world, I have a internet connection and a fondness for beer....apologies for that. Thank you for you patience. Many people don't want the truth, they want constant reassurance that whatever misconception/fallacies they believe in are true..
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