F-16 to Get Avionics Upgrade

[BusyLittleShop]

Originally Posted by Snagglefoot
With all due respect, will dog fights matter any more? AAM weapon systems will take of that problem.


Guns will always matter because of distance... far away it don't take a whole lot to fire and forget your AAM weapon whereas up close a respect kill is one where you out fly your opponent and they hit the chute...

 

[AdmdeVilleneuve]

The F-16V and the proposed new advanced variant, the F-21, have plenty of potential operators in the world. Probably not the US, but maybe India. NATO members who cannot afford a fifth generation fighter, like Canada (who is not looking at the F-21), may be happy to obtain a 4++ generation model.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Q36Z2_V90

 

[Astro14]

Originally Posted by Snagglefoot
Canada is flying 92 F-16's including 18 we picked up at a used jet-lot in Australia. Plans are to go at least another 12 years. Not sure if they get the full on upgrades.

No, Canada is flying the F/A-18. Twin engine. Twin tail. Built for the USN, and Canada, Switzerland, and others bought them.

Not even close to the same airplane.

Canada's Hornets have been upgraded in some areas, and lag behind the USN/USMC Hornets in others.

There are more Hornets at the used-jet lot here because the USN just retired the last of the F/A-18 A/B/C/D models and has an all Super Hornet fleet consisting of the F/A-18 E/F airplanes.

Australia bought the Super Hornet. It's been in consideration by Canada as well.

 

[Astro14]

Originally Posted by Snagglefoot
With all due respect, will dog fights matter any more? AAM weapon systems will take of that problem.


Said the pundits in 1962 when the F-4 Phantom brought all weather, long range, all aspect air to air missiles into fighter aviation.

Ten years later, the gun was added into the airframe.