Falcon Identification

[ПЗ]

Hello, people! Sorry my bad english...

Can anyone explain, if there are any exterior differences between F-16A and F-16C? Russian sources mention only engine, avionics and weapons upgrade. How can I identify these versions?

Thanks...

[GGTharos]

The airframes are the same IIRC ...

[Cobra360]

The F-16C has a longer tail base than the F-16A, longer before the tail, not after it. Thats the main difference to look for. The optional extra space after the tail varies from operator to operator. Holding braking chutes, extra ECM gear.

[Cobra360]

First pic is the F-16A. This one happens to be a Block 15 MLU.

 

Second is the F-16C. This one is a Block 40. Same as the one in Lockon.

[TucksonSonny]

Hello, people! Sorry my bad english...

Can anyone explain, if there are any exterior differences between F-16A and F-16C? Russian sources mention only engine, avionics and weapons upgrade. How can I identify these versions?

Thanks...

 

The F-16A/B Block 15 MLU is basically an upgrade comparable with the F-16C Block 40/50.

 

Performance of the F100 which is used in the Belgium F-16A/B (Block 15 MLU) is today comparable with the F110-132 engine being developed by General Electric, which produces 145kN of thrust or 32000 pounds of thrust

 

From its original 24,000-pound thrust class rating the F100 has matured into an engine that can produce in excess of 32,000 pounds of thrust (+33% thrust increasing) and remains a standard for fighter engine performance.

The refurbished F-16 with its enhanced F100 engine is a very potent combat aircraft and one that is attractive to air forces needing an immediate augmentation of their force structure at an affordable cost.

 

The Block 60 F-16E/F, which is being developed for the United Arab Emirates, features extra payload and range, in part due to the new F110-132 engine being developed by General Electric, which produces 145kN of thrust.

 

PS. 145Kn (kilo newtons) is about 32597.29 pounds-force

 

Block 15: Introduced on F-16A/B aircraft from 1981. Improvements included increased maximum T-O gross weight from 33,000 to 35,400 lbs, increased maximum weight for 9 g manoeuvres from 22,500 to 24,500 lbs, installation of two inlet hardpoint for sensor pods, strengthened store stations, increased horizontal tails, addition of provisions for six-station advanced Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles, early provision for AIM-7 air-to-air missile, cockpit upgrades, internal ECM upgrades and increased cooling capacity from 7 to 9 kW. Block 15 improvements introduced in 1988 include increased maximum T-O gross weight to 37,500 lbs, Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 turbofan engines, wide-angle Head-Up-Display (HUD).

 

Block 20: Introduced on F-16A/B aircraft from 1996. Improvements include increased maximum T-O weight to 37,500 lbs, increased maximum weight for 9 g manoeuvres to 26,100 lbs, MLU cockpit, avionics and other provisions. APG-66(V)3 radar, Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 engine, Block 50 aft fuselage and wing. AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missile, AN/ALR-56M Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), AN/ALR-47 chaff/flare dispenser system.

 

Included in the MLU program:

 

IFF system, ECM system (AN/ALQ-131 ECM pods), and the "Link 16" communication interface.

This is part of the M3 Upgrade within the MLU program. The M3 gives the capacity to work with the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System. This gives the pilot the possibility of firing an AIM-9X (or other advanced air-to-air) missile on a target while only 'looking and pulling the firing button'. The M4 software integration is expected in 2006.

 

BTW, check info on this site:

http://www.f-16.net/gallery_item17793.html

 

I hope this helps,