F-16IN Indian version of F-16
Created by Larkins Dsouza on May 27th, 2008 2 Comments »
a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://bp1.blogger.com/_RRbP6fpJWAc/SDfqnj6O1aI/AAAAAAAAAjA/kBVFUJHzpH4/s1600-h/f-16in.jpg”img style=”margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;” src=”http://bp1.blogger.com/_RRbP6fpJWAc/SDfqnj6O1aI/AAAAAAAAAjA/kBVFUJHzpH4/s320/f-16in.jpg” alt=”" id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203885859825178018″ border=”0″ //aF-16IN is the proposed Indian version of the F-16, if selected by India for their procurement of 126 MRCA jets. The aircraft’s latest advanced features including an AESA radar, which gives the plane the capability to simultaneously track and destroy ground and air threats. “The F-16IN is the most advanced F-16 ever,” said Chuck Artymovich, the company’s director, business development. Lockheed Martin is also inclined to set up an assembly line in India in collaboration with Indian partners. As the deadline for India’s biggest defence deal ever nears, Lockheed Martin unveiled a new upgraded version of its F-16 with “super cruise” capability and AESA radar.The “super cruise” would give the fighter an extended range, and allows it to break trough the sound barrier without the use of fuel guzzling after-burners. This supercruise capability is however a a reporting error that took on a life of its own in the Indian news media. As the deadline for India’s acquisition of 126 multi-role fighter aircrafts nears, Lockheed Martin has equipped the export version of the fighters, for the first time with Active Electronic Scanned Array (AESA) radars, as reportedly specified in the Indian Air Force’s US$10 billion tender. The AESA radars give the F-16 capability to simultaneously track and destroy ground and air threats. The AESA radar had been cleared before by the US government for installation in 80 F-16s ordered by the United Arab Emirates. India is now confident that a similar green signal would be given in their case. The deal, awaiting clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security, would be the first direct military sale by a US company to India. Speaking while unveiling the F-16IN, Lockheed Martin executive Chuck Artymovich said that the proposed fighter planes would also be armed with infra-red search and track pods as well as, counter-electronic warfare pods. “The F-16IN is a complete new aircraft and totally caters to India’s requirements and there could be no comparison with block 50 and 60 fighters, being made for other countries,” he said. Besides the F-16, other major contenders for the contract include Boeing’s F-18 Hornet, the Russian MiG-35, the French Dassault Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon offered by a consortium of European aerospace manufacturers and the Swedish Saab Gripen. At the ceremony, Lockheed Martin executives said they had met all requirements proposed in the Indian Request For Proposals (RfP) without giving out any details of the contents, citing confidentiality. They said that the company was prepared to meet the RFP requirements of offsets, and would do so in the field of aeronautics or for co-development of an Indian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
Is the picture you are showing accurate? If so it looks like this F16 model will also have CONFORMAL FUEL TANKS, similar to the Israel F16I ‘Sufa’.BR/BR/These are a big bonus as they allow a greater range without having to carry bulky, aerodynamics-killing external tanks (which limit a planes maneovarability, speed, stability and have other issues as well).BR/BR/It would be interesting to see if Israel would contribute to India’s F16 with it’s advanced Avionics (if America allows it, SIGGGHHHHH!) and/or by sharing training tactics. Israel is the most successful operator of the jet worldwide (based on: kill ratios, losses, types of targets, types of missions).BR/BR/One thing: I do wonder why India would procure these planes now, especially considering the fact that they are about to start being phased out in much of the world for the F35. The F35 has certain drawbacks, esp. it’s weapons load, but it has alot of bonuses.BR/BR/Of course, there’s also positives in that the F16 is tried and true parts/expertise/training programs for it are extremely mature…BR/BR/Pros/Cons…Just playing devils advocate; thinking out loud…BR/BR/A HREF=”http://wingless.aoriginality.com” REL=”nofollow”http://wingless.aoriginality.com/A
the picture is not at all accurate. It’s a scale model. F-16IN is just a proposed version for MRCA.